Good first but not second for Borussia Monchengladbach’s new coach Daniel Farke. The former Norwich coach, who has taken over from Adi Hutter, had made his debut with a convincing 3-1 success against Hoffenheim, a possible direct competitor for Europe, but his men, in the away match in Gelsenkirchen, were not able to give continuity to the victory against the Sinsheim formation: the challenge against the newly promoted Schalke 04 ended in a draw. A match, that of the Veltins-Arena, which the Fohlen had been able to overturn after having gone down. The two goals scored in the second half by Hofmann and Thuram seemed to bring another three points, but Bulter’s penalty in the second half thwarted everything.
Discontinuity was one of the main flaws that prevented Borussia Monchengladbach from qualifying for Europe last year, finishing a disappointing tenth. A goal, the European one, that this time seems to be within reach, especially after some intriguing market transactions that have contributed to give life to the new cycle. The first two games have said that Borussia have probably changed pace, but the road back to the levels of three seasons ago is still a long one. This weekend Farke and his team have another chance to collect more points, hosting an already struggling team like Hertha Berlin.
The Capitols are coming from a couple of seasons that have been tributary to say the least, in which they seriously risked not keeping their category. The debut was one to forget with the heavy defeat in the derby against Union. Better, however, in the first home outing last Saturday at the Olympiastadion against Eintracht Frankfurt, stopped at 1-1.
Sandro Schwarz, Hertha coach ©️Ansafoto
The prediction
If it wasn’t for the last-minute equalising goal in Gelsenkirchen, Borussia Monchengladbach would now be on full points. Farke’s team has shown good things in these first two matches and should be able to confirm this against Hertha Berlin, who look decidedly less fearsome on the road. You can bet on a Fohlen victory in a match with at least three goals in total.
Borussia Monchengladbach-Hertha Berlin line-up odds
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (4-3-3): Sommer; Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Kone, Kramer, Neuhaus; Hofmann, Thuram, Plea.
HERTHA BERLIN (4-3-3): Christensen; Kenny, Uremovic, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Tousart, Sunjic, Serdar; Lukebakio, Kanga, Ejuke.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
