B. Monchengladbach vs FC Koln prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2024-03-08 14:30.
[p]The Rhine derby will take centre stage when Borussia Mönchengladbach battle their great adversary, Cologne. This rivalry is one of the most storied in Bundesliga history, in no small part down to Gladbach’s incredible 12-0 victory over Dortmund in the final round in 1978, a result which almost snatched the title from Cologne on the final day. Whilst that remains the Bundesliga’s greatest ever winning margin, attaining victories by any scoreline has proven a bit of a problem for the Foals in recent weeks (W1, D3, L3). [/p]
[p]A return home could go some way to remedying those woes, with Augsburg the only side to take three points away from Gladbach at Borussia-Park since the end of September (W5, D3, L1). That imperious form could come under threat if boss Gerardo Seoane’s personal winless record against Cologne is anything to go by (D1, L2), yet the fact the visitors arrive here nine points worse off than Gladbach may provide some reassurance.[/p]
[p]That yawning gap is thanks to what is frankly relegation form, as their paltry 17-point haul is the fewest they’ve accrued at this stage since they had the same amount in their last relegation-bound season of 2017/18. The Billy Goats can take some solace in the fact that their 3-1 win in the reverse was their biggest win of the campaign as they now eye their first winning H2H league double since the 2021/22 season.[/p]
[p]Achieving that feat will require the visitors to end a frustrating five-game winless run of away trips (D3, L2), which has been extended by three consecutive 1-1 draws. Perhaps the most concerning part of that run is the fact that Cologne squandered leads in two of those games, whilst they have failed to win four of the five away league games across the season when scoring first (W1, D3, L1). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Nathan Ngoumou has burst onto the scene in recent weeks for Gladbach, doubling his league goal contributions across his last two appearances with two goals and an assist (G4, A2). As for Cologne, Florian Kainz hit penalties either side of half-time in the reverse and six of the midfielder’s last eight goals came from the spot. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Cologne are averaging a league-low 1.4 points per game when scoring first at any venue (W3, D5, L2), though one of those wins was the reverse fixture. [/p]