Kovac Relies on Beier as Dortmund Face Gladbach Run

dortmund arrive at Borussia-Park with 67 points from 31 matches and a six-match unbeaten run against Borussia Mönchengladbach in official competition. Niko Kovac can also turn to Maximilian Beier, whose 10 goals and 8 assists have given the visitors a reliable attacking option as they try to steady themselves after the loss in Hoffenheim.

Beier and Dortmund's edge

Beier has been one of Dortmund's sharper pieces this season. The forward has produced 10 goals and 8 assists, and Kovac could again trust him for a match that now sits inside Dortmund's push to keep a strong position near the top.

Dortmund's defensive numbers add another layer to the trip. The side has conceded 31 goals, the fewest in the league, and it has won 20 of the last 25 meetings with Gladbach. Even with the defeat in Hoffenheim still fresh, Dortmund is trying to avoid a second away loss in a row.

Gladbach's 32-point problem

Gladbach enters with 32 points after 31 matchdays, and the season has already brought five league matches without scoring. That is the league high, and it leaves the home side leaning heavily on Borussia-Park, where all five of its points in this phase have come.

The pressure around the club has gone beyond the field. Gladbach also reported a renewed annual loss of 3.9 million euros, and president Bonhof called the year a "Scheißjahr" at the members' meeting. Jens Castrop is suspended for Sunday, removing another option as Gladbach tries to drag itself clear of trouble.

Borussia-Park under strain

The matchup gives Gladbach little room to hide. Dortmund have not lost in the last six official meetings between the clubs, while Gladbach has been held to the kind of returns that have made the home stand feel more like a survival test than a spring run-in.

For Gladbach, the immediate demand is to find a goal and make Borussia-Park count. For Dortmund, the task is more direct: use Beier, stay compact behind him, and leave with a result that keeps the season moving in the right direction after Hoffenheim.