Acontributor takes a look at Thursday’s opponents as we continue our Europa League campaign. Who are Borussia Monchengladbach?
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Borussia Monchengladbach head to the Stadio Olimpico (kick-off: 18:55 local time) in remarkable form, currently sitting joint-top with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga table.
Roma hold a three-point advantage over Marco Rose’s side in Group J as the teams meet for the first time. Having finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season, the German side booked their place in the Europe League for this season, following a two-year absence from European football.
The Foals become Roma’s 27th fixture against German opposition, with the Giallorossi having previously won 10 of the previous 26 (D2 L14), including eight at home. The most recent match came against Bayer Leverkusen – a 3-2 victory in the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League group stage.
Monchengladbach are unbeaten in seven total away matches in the UEFA Europa League group stage, where they have won two and drawn five.Their last European away victory came against Serie A opposition, when they defeated Fiorentina 4-2 last season thanks to a Lars Stindl hat-trick.
Edin Dzeko has produced three goals and two assists against the German side in five appearances, when featuring for Wolfsburg between 2011 to 2014. Similarly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan also has three goals and two assists against Rose’s side from his time with Borussia Dortmund.
THE BOSS
Marco Rose, an Austrian double-winner and two-time champion with Salzburg, arrived at Monchengladbach for the 2019-20 season, having replaced Dieter Hecking. A defender with hometown club VfB Leipzig, Hannover and Mainz, he spent six years on Salzburg’s coaching staff, where he masterminded their run to the 2017-18 UEFA Europa League semi-finals, during his debut campaign as their head coach. Rose also led the Salzburg youth team to victory in the 2016-17 UEFA Youth League.
DANGER MEN
Marcus Thuram
An all-round attacker, Thuram is Monchengladbach’s new star up front. The 22-year-old, who was born in Parma, has netted three goals and two assists so far this campaign, helping his side to the summit of the Bundesliga. Due to his robust stature, he takes after his father Lilian Thuram, the former Juventus and France defender. Marcus recently impressed in the Rheine derby, scoring twice against Fortuna Dusseldorf, including his first goal in the Bundesliga.
Breel Embolo
Embolo, who can play out wide or through the middle, may have endured an injury-ravaged three seasons with Schalke following his arrival from Basel in 2016, but the Switzerland international is fit and firing, having netted his first goal for the club in a 3-1 victory over Mainz. The 22-year-old will have the tough task of trying to break down the Roma backline.
Patrick Herrmann
Having joined the club in 2008, the experienced German winger has featured in an astonishing 355 games, scoring on 68 of those occasions. He has two goals to his name so far this season – netting a brace in a 5-1 victory over Augsburg – and will be hoping to get his first goal of this Europa League campaign on Thursday night.
