Important Facts
- Gladbach (11th/20) is level on points with Cologne and only one point ahead of Wolfsburg; Stuttgart (4th/33) is level on points with Hoffenheim and only one point ahead of Leipzig.
- Gladbach’s form has been very inconsistent: A 0-0 draw in Hamburg was followed by a 1-5 defeat in Hoffenheim, but then there was a convincing 4-0 win against Augsburg.
- Gladbach’s squad is depleted: Kleindienst and Hack are out, Diks is doubtful; as a result, the offense is even more dependent on Tabakovic, who contributes 39.1% of the team’s goals.
- Stuttgart created many chances even in their 2-0 defeat in Rome, but Undav’s lack of goals is the topic of discussion; defensively, they have conceded in four of their last five games, often after the break.
- In a direct comparison, there have been no draws in five games and an average of 3.2 goals; with over 2.5 goals scored four times, supporting BTTS/Over, while a Stuttgart win is priced at 2.3.
Between the pressure of the Champions League and the tough everyday life in mid-table, there is more brilliance in the table than meets the eye this Sunday afternoon at Borussia-Park. On matchday 19, Eugen Polanski’s Borussia Mönchengladbach are in 11th place with 20 points, looking up at 1. FC Köln on goal difference and at the same time having to keep an eye on Wolfsburg, who are only one point behind. On the other hand, Sebastian Hoeneß has led Stuttgart to 4th place with 33 points, level on points with Hoffenheim and only one point ahead of Leipzig. Gladbach comes into the game on the back of a 0-0 draw at Hamburger SV, but their league record has so far failed to live up to hopes of a jump into the top half of the table. Offensively, a lot rests on Tabakovic, while absences such as Diks, Hack, and Kleindienst noticeably reduce the options. Stuttgart were stopped by Union in the league and then lost 2-0 to Roma in the Europa League despite having chances, with Undav coming in for criticism for his finishing. The last league match ended 1-0 for Stuttgart, and this fixture is rarely a quiet affair.
- Date and time: January 25, 2026, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (matchday 19)
The market makes Stuttgart a slight away favorite, listed at 2.3 – which seems quite feasible given Gladbach’s injury worries, as Kleindienst and Hack are out and Diks is questionable. Stuttgart created numerous chances even in Rome despite Undav’s goal drought, while Gladbach relies heavily on Tabakovic’s disproportionate share of goals.
Gladbach Form & Record Check
Gladbach goes into matchday 19 in 11th place with 20 points, a mid-table position that seems fragile rather than comfortable. They are level on points with Cologne above them and only one point ahead of Wolfsburg below them, so a single twist could redraw the picture. Polanski has stabilized things, but the league record for the last five games continues to be uneven. Last week’s 0-0 draw at Hamburger SV resulted in a clean sheet, but it also showed how blunt they can be when their transitions falter. A few days earlier, they were taken apart 5-1 at Hoffenheim, conceding too easily once the first line was bypassed. Interestingly, their recent games often cool off after the break, with few goals regularly scored in the second half. Before this slump, Borussia-Park saw a 4-0 win against Augsburg, their most complete performance of the phase, with control in midfield and clinical finishing in the penalty area. This was followed by a 2-0 defeat in Dortmund and a 3-1 home loss to Wolfsburg, games in which the defensive spacing on the wings seemed too generous and the reaction to setbacks was too passive. Statistically, four of the last five league games have ended with more than 1.5 goals, while at the same time the same series shows a clear tendency towards quieter second halves, with most games seeing less than 1.5 goals after the break. Personnel problems are exacerbating the situation: Diks, Hack, Ngoumou, and Kleindienst are out, reducing options for width and presence in the penalty area.
This makes it all the more important to control the game against higher-ranked opponents.
This is only a prediction, but Gladbach are likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 under Polanski. Nicolas would be protected by a back three of Friedrich, Elvedi, and Chiarodia, while Scally and Netz would provide width as wingbacks. In midfield, Reitz and Engelhardt should provide balance, while Honorat and Neuhaus operate close to Machino. With Diks out with a head injury, the depth in defense is limited, which is why Takai could be the first defensive option if changes are needed. Further up front, Hack is out with knee problems and Ngoumou is not yet fit, which limits the wing options and could give Stöger or Reyna more playing time as creative forces. Up front, Kleindienst’s knee surgery prevents him from playing, making Tabakovic the obvious alternative to Machino.
Stuttgart Form & Record Check
Stuttgart is in the top four with 33 points, and despite a recent slip-up, their league record has largely remained on track. They are level on points with Hoffenheim directly above them and only one point ahead of Leipzig below them, so there is little room for error. Against this backdrop, the next few matchdays seem less like a breather and more like constant damage control. In the Bundesliga, the trend is positive but not flawless. The 1-1 draw with Union Berlin felt like two points dropped, especially after a strong start that faded as Union found their feet in the second half. Before that, the 3-2 win over Frankfurt showed resilience and attacking prowess, and the 4-1 win in Leverkusen was ruthless, an away game that exceeded expectations. In all competitions, the first defeat of 2026 came with the 2-0 loss in Rome in the Europa League group stage, and it was frustrating because Stuttgart created enough chances to get something out of the game. The big issue is Undav’s sudden slump in finishing, with clear chances missed against Frankfurt, Union, and again in Rome. The results are still holding up, but the level of performance has declined. Defensively, a somewhat worrying pattern is emerging: Stuttgart have conceded goals in four of their last five games, often after the break, and second halves have not been converted into wins recently. This could be due to fatigue and important absences, with Stiller out and Zagadou also missing, which affects control and depth. Hoeneß still has pace and width through Leweling and Führich, but the balance must be maintained for 90 minutes.
Hoeneß is expected to stick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Nübel behind a back three of Jeltsch, Chabot, and Hendriks. Assignon and Mittelstädt are expected to provide width as wingbacks, while Karazor and Andrés are the most likely pairing in central midfield. Further forward, Leweling and Führich would act as the two creative players in support of Undav. The lineup is largely influenced by injuries: Stiller is struggling with groin problems, and Jaquez and Zagadou are still unavailable, so the defensive trio is almost a foregone conclusion. Up front, Undav remains the starter despite his recent finishing problems, with Demirovic the obvious alternative if Hoeneß demands more direct running. Tomás is also out, which reduces the late pace coming off the bench.
Gladbach – Stuttgart Head-to-head & statistics
There have been no draws in the last five meetings, with Stuttgart having the upper hand with three wins to two. The most recent in August 2025 was a narrow 1-0 win for Stuttgart. Gladbach responded in February 2025, winning 2-1 there. In 2024, Gladbach hosted twice and shared the results, first a 3-1 win, then a 1-3 defeat, while Stuttgart also won 4-0 at home. Goals were mostly clustered, with a total of 16 scored, or 3.2 per game. Four of the five encounters had over 2.5 goals and three had over 3.5, with the 1-0 win in August 2025 being the exception. What is striking is that Stuttgart scored in all five games, each time in the second half, while Gladbach conceded a goal after the break in every game. This late scoring pattern suggests that games can still turn after the break, even if the first half seems quiet. Gladbach’s problem in direct duels may lie in game management, as they failed to keep a clean sheet in any of these five games. With Hack and Kleindienst out for Gladbach and Stuttgart without Stiller, the next chapter could once again be decided by who finds solutions late in the game.
