Gladbach looking to "give the fans a good send-off"

On Wednesday, the daily training session at Borussia Mönchengladbach took a back seat. Three days before the game against TSG, the team from the Lower Rhine took part in a charity match against the Ukrainian national side. Gladbach suffered a 1-2 defeat in front of 20,223 spectators, but coach Adi Hütter spoke afterwards of a good test in the friendly – especially since they also achieved their goal of collecting a large amount of donations to provide aid in Ukraine. In the last game of the season against Hoffenheim, however, they will be going all out for victory. Some 50,000 fans are expected to be in attendance, and three points would at least be a positive finish to what has been an unsatisfactory season overall. It would also go some way to appeasing the fans who have voiced criticism in recent weeks.

"The game against Hoffenheim is once again very important for us. We still have something to play for," said Hütter: "First of all, to secure our position in the table. Secondly, to give our fans a good send-off. And thirdly, to extend our unbeaten run." The hosts have been in far better form than TSG in recent weeks, having lost only one of their last eight Bundesliga matches (four wins and three draws). No other team has suffered fewer defeats in the league during that period.

But recently their home games have often been tense affairs as the hard core of their fans have made their dissatisfaction about how the season has gone clear. "We are not satisfied with how this season has gone. On the one hand, because we wanted to be higher up the table, fighting for the European places, and on the other hand, we suddenly found ourselves in the relegation battle a few weeks ago," Hütter said at the press conference on Thursday. Now TSG's opponents are looking to hold on to tenth place in the league. While the goal of overhauling Mainz 05 in ninth in the final table will be a step too far (Mainz are three points clear and have a vastly superior goal difference (+16 goals)), Gladbach could be 10th, 11th, 12th or 13th in the table when the final whistle blows. That could make a very big financial difference for the club, as it would affect the amount of TV revenues they receive. That is why there is a lot at stake against TSG Hoffenheim. They "could lose €4.3 million even with a draw," noted the "Rheinische Post", the region's most popular newspaper.

The defence was identified as a weak point for the five-time German champions this season. The 1-1 draw in Frankfurt on Sunday saw them concede their 60th goal of the season – their most in ten years. Against TSG, Hütter will have to make changes in the defence once again, as Jordan Beyer was taken off in Frankfurt with a muscle injury and has missed a lot of training during the week. Matthias Ginter, who is set to move to SC Freiburg next season, could get another start. Another option would be American Joe Scally. Nico Elvedi will miss the game due to suspension following his red card in his last game, but Tony Jantschke will not be able to step into his place, as he had surgery on his knee earlier this week. What is certain is that Yann Sommer will return to take his place between the sticks, in place of Tobias Sippel, who stepped in in Frankfurt. Marcus Thuram, Laszlo Bénes and Christoph Kramer could return to the squad.

One task Borussia will face against Hoffenheim will be keeping the defence tight, especially in the closing stages – a time when TSG are particularly strong. It is also a phase where Gladbach struggle – no Bundesliga team have let in more after the 90th minute mark. TSG's Kevin Akpoguma scored one of the six goals Gladbach have conceded in injury time to give TSG a late equaliser in the reverse fixture. This could perhaps offer Hoffenheim a chance to send their own fans home with a victory in the last game of the season.

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