Dream11 Fantasy Soccer: Bayern Leverkusen at Borussia Monchengladbach Preview

Game Preview

Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach might sit slightly far from Bayern Munich at the top of the standings since they have 50 and 52 points, respectively, but that doesn't mean the sides have nothing to play for Saturday. The hosts know a win could solidify their chances of reaching a spot in the UEFA Champions League, while the visitors know a win would grant them a top-4 spot as well. Both come in on two-game winning streaks, and the home/away splits show how good these sides have been throughout the season. While Monchengladbach are W9, D2, L2 at home, Leverkusen own a W8, D1, L4 mark away; both have a W3, D1, L1 mark in their last five contests at home and away, respectively.

Injury Notes

Borussia Monchengladbach

OUT: Fabian Johnson, Denis Zakaria

Doubful: None

Bayer Leverkusen

OUT: Lars Bender, Kevin Volland

Doubtful: NONE

Expected Lineups

Monchengladbach: Yann Sommer; Ramy Bensebaini, Nico Elvedi, Matthias Ginter, Stefan Lainer; Jonas Hofmann, Florian Neuhaus, Tobias Strobl; Breel Embolo, Alassane Plea, Marcus Thuram

Leverkusen: Lukas Hradecky; Sven Bender, Daley Sinkgraven, Edmond Tapsoba, Mitchell Weiser; Nadiem Amiri, Charles Aranguiz, Kerem Demirbay; Karim Bellarabi, Kai Havertz, Moussa Diaby

Top Picks

Kai Havertz scored two goals against Werder Bremen the last time out, and the talented playmaker has now registered seven goals and five assists in his last eight starts in all competitions. Despite his youth, he is one of the hottest players in the Bundesliga and should be a strong pick despite Monchengladbach's strong home record.

Alassane Plea plays the same central striker role as Havertz, and the Frenchman has gotten decent results as well. Plea netted the last time out, and he has cracked the scoresheet in five of his last seven Bundesliga matches – posting four goals and two assists during that span.

It's hard to imagine a defender being one of the top picks, but Ramy Bensebaini has a good chance of producing a good performance. He is Borussia's designated penalty taker and has recorded eight shots and 10 crosses in his last three starts. And if that isn't enough, he also plays for a team that has lost just two of 13 games at home this season.

Lineup Strategies

Trust both sides' attacking lines: Leverkusen and Monchengladbach are known for being attack-minded, and for good reason. Both teams know their strongest area lies in the final depth, with players such as Havertz, Plea, Marcus Thuram and Moussa Diaby, just to name a few. Considering Monchengladbach average 2.3 goals scored per home game while Leverkusen have netted 1.84 goals per away tilt, there's good reason to remain on that path. As such, we could be in line for a shoot-out between two sides that have set their sights in a UEFA Champions League berth.

Defensive value might be absent, but...: With both sides potentially scoring goals for fun, it's hard to imagine most defenders having value through defensive stats and/or clean sheets. However, there a few names that stand out: Ramy Bensebaini, Mitchell Weiser, Wendell (if he starts) and Daley Sinkgraven could all be decent alternatives for a starting role at the back. All of them are capable of moving forward with ease, something that might translate into chances created, crosses sent or assists. Bensebaini gets a leg up on the other defenders due to his role as Monchengladbach's designated penalty taker.

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

1. Kai Havertz
2. Alassane Plea
3. Ramy Bensebaini
4. Marcus Thuram

Dream11 Team

GK – Yann Sommer

DF – Ramy Bensebaini

DF – Edmond Tapsoba

DF – Mitchell Weiser

DF – Daley Sinkgraven

MF – Jonas Hofmann

MF – Moussa Diaby

MF – Nadiem Amiri

FW – Kai Havertz

FW – Alassane Plea

FW – Marcus Thuram

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are of the author and is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn.