Borussia Mönchengladbach's lineup for the Bundesliga opener against RB Leipzig has been reported by the official Bundesliga website. The Foals face the Saxons on Saturday, 29 August, but will be without several injured players.
The team finished the previous season in 12th place with 38 points, from nine wins, eleven draws, and fourteen losses. Scoring 42 goals while conceding 53 highlighted areas for improvement. They ended the campaign 51 points behind champions Bayern Munich, far from the title race.
Who will play for Gladbach against Leipzig?
Nicolas is the probable starting goalkeeper. The back four in front of him is expected to be Daiki Hashioka, Ko Itakura, Denso Kasius, and Luca Ullrich. The defensive midfield duo will likely be Patrick Sander and Nikolas Stöger. The attack will feature wingers El Hadji Mohya and Robin Hack, with young striker Noel Bolin providing support. Captain and central forward André Kleindienst leads the line.
This probable starting eleven was reported by the Bundesliga website for the first match of the season. The exact tactical setup and the coach's name were not specified in the report. Fans can check the final lineup and all future dates on our fixtures page.
Which players are missing for Gladbach?
The squad shortages affect defense and midfield. Four players are ruled out: Jonas Castrop (shoulder), Fabio Chiarodia (match fitness), Yukinari Sugawara (knee), and Shota Uno (muscular). Eugen Polanski is listed as doubtful. These absences significantly limit the coaching staff's rotation options, especially in the first half of the season.
The injury list is a setback for a team that showed inconsistent form (WLWDD) last season. The current squad overview is available on our squad page. Medical updates on the affected players are provided on the injuries page.
What does this mean for the season opener?
The first match against a direct competitor like Leipzig is always important for setting the tone. Gladbach must demonstrate they can address the shortcomings of the previous campaign. The next opportunity comes quickly, on 5 September at home against newly-promoted SV Elversberg.
A positive start would be a key signal for the entire season. The squad has the potential to establish itself in the mid-table region but needs to perform more consistently. The coming weeks will reveal if their targets are achievable.
