Preview: Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Wolfsburg - prediction, team news, lineups

Borussia Monchengladbach play host to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Tuesday evening having surrendered their place in the top four at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Wolfsburg head into the contest looking to take another step towards securing sixth place, which would earn the club a spot in next season's Europa League.

Match preview

For 85 minutes on Saturday, Gladbach kept themselves within touching distance of ending Bayern's 12-match winning streak, while also retaining their grip of the final Champions League place.

However, Leon Goretzka's late goal condemned Gladbach to a 2-1 defeat, leaving the club one point adrift of Bayer Leverkusen with three matches remaining.

Marco Rose will insist that he took the positives from his team's efforts at the Allianz Arena, but the failure to earn a share of the spoils has left his players under pressure to deliver in their final three games.

Suffering back-to-back setbacks has come at the wrong time, although Leverkusen's 1-1 draw at Schalke 04 has at least kept Gladbach hot on the heels of their nearest rivals.

While Gladbach will be bitterly disappointed if they only qualify for the Europa League, Wolfsburg will be elated if they can gain a spot in the competition.

Although Oliver Glasner would have been frustrated having witnessed his team let slip a 2-0 advantage against Freiburg at the weekend, a draw was enough to extend their advantage over Hoffenheim to three points.

Added to their superior goal difference, Wolfsburg are effectively two wins away from equaling last season's finishing position, something which would be deemed a solid achievement given the break in the season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wout Weghorst netted a double at the weekend, taking his tally to three strikes from two outings and 18 goals in all competitions for the campaign.

With a trip to Schalke 04 and a meeting with Bayern Munich still to come, Wolfsburg may need the Dutchman to continue his form if the club are to be playing on the continent later in 2020.

Borussia Monchengladbach Bundesliga form: WLDWLL

Wolfsburg Bundesliga form: WLWLWD

Team News

Glasner will assess the fitness of his Wolfsburg side before making a decision on whether to retain the same starting lineup.

Having been used as a substitute in the last two games, Yannick Gerhardt could be handed a recall in midfield, potentially in place of Xaver Schlager.

Monchengladbach had hoped to be able to call upon Alassane Plea, who missed the meeting with Bayern through suspension.

However, the Frenchman, as well as Marcus Thuram, are sidelined through adductor and ankle injuries respectively.

Tony Jantschke may come into the team at the expense of centre-back Nico Elvedi, while Oscar Wendt is expected to replace the suspended Ramy Bensebaini.

Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup: Sommer; Lainer, Ginter, Jantschke, Wendt; Neuhaus, Kramer; Hermann, Stindl, Hofmann; Embolo

Wolfsburg possible starting lineup: Casteels; Mbabu, Pongracic, Brooks, Roussillon; Steffen, Gerhardt, Arnold, Brekalo; Ginczek, Weghorst

We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 Wolfsburg

Having gone so close to earning a result at the Allianz Arena, Gladbach will want to make amends, and know it is necessary if they want to earn Champions League football next season. With that in mind, we feel that the home side will do just enough to edge a closely-fought contest.