Borussia Mönchengladbach – VfL Wolfsburg
Saturday, Borussia-Park, and no farewell music can be heard from the loudspeakers. Borussia Mönchengladbach is foregoing the usual ceremony for departing professionals, even though prominent names such as Ko Itakura and Jonas Omlin are on their way out. The sporting situation is similarly unusual: the Foals could still jump to eighth place with a final three points, but if they lose, they are in danger of slipping down the table. VfL Wolfsburg, on the other hand, need points to secure twelfth place and avoid being caught by Union Berlin. The back-and-forth nature of the previous direct encounters – 4-0 for Gladbach in November, 1-5 from Gladbach’s perspective in January – promises an open finale.
Gladbach – Wolfsburg info
- Venue: BORUSSIA-PARK, Mönchengladbach
- Date and time: May 17, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (matchday 34)
Gladbach form & record check
Gladbach’s mid-season surge has come to an end. Gerardo Seoane’s team has not won any of its last five league games, losing four times, most recently 2-0 at Bayern Munich. Sixteen goals conceded in that span show that the pressing often comes to nothing. On a positive note, the team scored in four of these games, mostly from the wings with Franck Honorat or Jonas Hofmann, but there is a lack of balance. The central defense is particularly shaky: Marvin Friedrich is injured, Itakura is in farewell mode, and Elvedi is struggling. Youngsters such as Rocco Reitz and Lukas Ullrich are earning points, but consistency is rare.
Predicted 4-1-4-1 for Gladbach: Omlin, Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Ullrich, Weigl, Honorat, Reitz, Sander, Hack, Kleindienst. Nicolas, Friedrich, Swider, Borges Sanches, and Ngoumou will be missing. The starting eleven is the same as against Bayern, as Seoane is not indicating any experiments in his final tactics. Despite his imminent departure, Itakura will probably get his last home game as a starter.
Wolfsburg form & record check
Wolfsburg are also coming off five games without a win, but at least managed draws against Hoffenheim and Mainz (both 2-2). Daniel Bauer’s side conceded several goals in each of those games, with the 4-0 thrashing in Dortmund particularly notable. The team’s offense thrives on the dynamism of Vaclav Černý and Tiago Tomás, but the balance between risk and security is rarely right. The absences of Mattias Svanberg and Kevin Paredes exacerbate the problem, and the rest of the schedule remains tight: three points ahead of Union, three behind Augsburg.
Wolfsburg are likely to start in a mirror image 4-1-4-1 formation: Grabara, Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Mæhle, Vranckx, Kamiński, Wimmer, Gerhardt, Amoura, Wind. Müller, Bornauw, Rogério, Svanberg, Paredes and Bröger are all out. Coach Bauer is relying on well-rehearsed moves, with surprises likely to come from the wings at most.
H2H Gladbach – Wolfsburg Head-to-head & statistics
Gladbach have won four of the last five competitive meetings between the sides, with Wolfsburg winning once and there having been no draws. It is noteworthy that the Foals have scored in each of those games, while the Wolves have only responded in the most recent encounter in 2025, winning 5-1. Overall, however, the trend is still slightly in favor of the Rhinelanders.
