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Cologne And Gladbach On Edge Ahead Of Rhine Valley Derby

Cologne And Gladbach On Edge Ahead Of Rhine Valley Derby

21.09.2014 16:46

Borussia Mönchengladbach will take on Cologne this Sunday in the Rhine region's most celebrated Bundesliga derby. For both sets of supporters, it's arguably the most important game of the year. When 1.FC Köln meet Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday, in the last game of the Bundesliga weekend, it will.

Borussia Mönchengladbach will take on Cologne this Sunday in the Rhine region's most celebrated Bundesliga derby. For both sets of supporters, it's arguably the most important game of the year.

When 1.FC Köln meet Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday, in the last game of the Bundesliga weekend, it will be a battle to find the best team in the Rhine Valley. Well, that's according to the fans of both clubs at least. The fact is, Bayer Leverkusen have been the best team in the region for years, regularly coming in the top three of the table.



But Mönchengladbach and Cologne fans won't be thinking about that on Sunday. After all, Leverkusen, a club that joined the German top flight for the first time in 1979, doesn't really have the traditions of Cologne or Gladbach. The duel between these two clubs is much older than that. The fact that it couldn't take place last year, because Cologne was playing in the second division, is just a minor issue.



To give you an idea of the tension ahead of the game, a group of Gladbach fans stormed a factory where Cologne fans were preparing their choreography for Sunday. They drove up in cars, jumped over a fence and attacked the Cologne supporters. As the police arrived, they fled the scene.



Police protection for a billy goat



In fact there's been a lot to do for the Cologne police recently. Due to the attack on the Cologne fans, the team's mascot, a billy goat called Hennes the 8th, has been put under protection. There have been indications that Gladbach fans could do something to Cologne's famous mascot. Cologne's club locations are also under police surveillance. It's no surprise then that Cologne's coach Peter Stöger is trying to cool everyone down a bit before the Rhine's biggest derby.



"The development that I see at Mönchengladbach in the last few years, is very good," he says. Stöger knows that the Cologne vs. Gladbach game has been marred by violence in the past but hopes it won't be the same this year. "I hope it will be a football festival, which runs peacefully."



While Cologne have started the season inn an acceptable fashion, and hasn't yet conceded a goal, they have struggled to convert their chances. Two of their games so far have ended 0-0. But Stöger wants to keep the defensive make-up of his team.



"We have to keep a clean sheet," he said ahead of the match. "If it is not possible to be creative in attack then we at least have to be solid at the back."



Defense versus attack



Against Gladbach, Cologne will have to defend well too. In their 4-1 win over Schalke, the Foals' attacking unit of Max Kruse, Andre Hahn and Raffael worked very well together. But coach Lucien Favre may not be able to call on his top players for the game, especially after the team's Thursday night game against Villareal.



"There will automatically be changes," said Favre. "Regenerating between Thursday and Sunday is tough. I can plan some changes, but I can't predict everything."



The 81st match between these two teams definitely sees Gladbach as favorites, because of their current form. But statistics from the past show the same trend too. In total, Cologne have only won 21 encounters, while Borussia Mönchengladbach have walked out winners 44 times.



 
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