Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Union Berlin 26/09/20

26 September 2020

Borussia Mönchengladbach launch their Bundesliga home campaign against Union Berlin this weekend. A high-scoring affair is well on the cards, given both of their competitive H2Hs held at the Borussia-Park have seen over 4.5 goals and both teams on the scoresheet.

The hosts were dismantled on Matchday 1, suffering a 3-0 away defeat to Borussia Dortmund, and are now taking on a side they endured mixed fortunes against back in 2019/20 (W1, L1). Indeed, both of their top-flight H2Hs last season saw the hosts of the day secure a win by at least a two-goal margin. But, ‘Die Fohlen’ established themselves as one of the fiercest home teams in the Bundesliga next to Bayern Munich in 2019/20, returning a league second-high 39 points on home soil (W12, D2, L3). Remarkably, ten (83.33%) of those 12 home victories came despite a -1 handicap, with eight (66.67%) producing a full-time margin of over 1.5 goals. Additionally, Mönchengladbach were almost impossible to bypass after taking an early lead in 2019/20, winning all but one of eight Bundesliga home games in which they were leading at half-time (W7, D1).

On the other hand, Union Berlin succumbed to a 3-1 home loss to Aubsgurg on the opening matchday, which now means that none of their previous seven Bundesliga fixtures has ended in a draw, last season included (W3, L4). However, a lack of confidence away from home saw the visitors register a clear minority (34.15%) of their total league points on the road back in 2019/20 (14/41). Furthermore, only one team conceded fewer away goals than ‘Die Eisernen’ (38) last season, as they allowed the average of 2.23 goals per Bundesliga trip. Particularly vulnerable after the half-time break, Urs Fischer’s men conceded the majority (63.16%) of the away league goals in the second half of play back last term (24/38).