Borussia Monchengladbach need nothing short of a miracle to salvage their Champions League campaign as they attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit from their last-16 first-leg battle with Manchester City on Tuesday evening.
In what may well be his final European game as Monchengadbach manager, Marco Rose is sweating over the fitnesses of both Ramy Bensebaini and Christoph Kramer, who have suffered respective muscle and ligament injuries since completing the first 90 minutes in the first leg.
There is more optimism over Bensebaini's fitness, and the Algeria international will likely come up against his compatriot Riyad Mahrez if he is passed fit, but Oscar Wendt is expected to continue in defence for now.
With Kramer unlikely to return in time for the second leg, Denis Zakaria - currently being linked with a move to Liverpool - should man the engine room alongside another much-coveted midfielder in Florian Neuhaus.
Zakaria's likely reintroduction could see Jonas Hofmann shifted out to the right-hand side of the attack, with former Newcastle United loanee Valentino Lazaro's spot under threat amid Monchengladbach's torrid losing run.
Lars Stindl, Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram boast a combined total of nine goals and 11 assists in the Champions League so far this term, but Rose's attacking trident will have their work cut out for them if they are to save Monchengladbach's bacon against a defensively-sound Man City rearguard.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Wendt; Neuhaus, Zakaria; Hofmann, Stindl, Thuram; Plea
> Click here to see how Man City could line up for this clash
Ben Knapton
