Bundesliga
Can Gladbach get back into European contention?
With a strong home record and the dependable Tim Kleindienst, Borussia Mönchengladbach are eying the higher reaches of the table again. Should they continue their current form, Gerardo Seoane's charges can hope to mount a challenge for European qualification.
There were not even 40 seconds on the clock when Tim Kleindienst rose to sink an authoritative header from a Franck Honorat cross and send Borussia Mönchengladbach on their way to another three points in a thumping 4-1 home win over Holstein Kiel. The dependable and confident Germany international striker has epitomised much of the positivity at Gladbach since his signing in the summer from Heidenheim.
The win against newly-promoted Kiel made Gladbach unbeaten in six home matches, the longest such run yet under Gerardo Seoane, while they have as many home wins in the current campaign - five - as they managed in the whole of 2023/24. Just one defeat in their last eight Bundesliga matches leaves the Foals in tenth - on the verge of the top half of the table and just three points behind fifth place.
Watch: Gladbach draw at home to Dortmund
Gladbach appear to have built a strong platform to enter the race for European qualification in the new year - with the prospect of Gladbach's first venture into continental competition since Marco Rose led them into the UEFA Champions League with a fourth-placed finish in 2019/20.
They have stayed true to their possession-based principles in their current run of good form while also having an extra weapon in the aerial prowess of Kleindienst - whose five headed goals this season has led to Gladbach scoring more headed goals than any other side (seven). The fluent fourth goal against Kiel oozed the sense of confidence in the side - with young midfield gem Rocco Reitz playing a tidy one-two with Alassane Pléa at the end of a swift move, before the Frenchman tucked in his second goal of the game.
Seoane has recognised the potential for European qualification while aiming to take the focus off that, saying: "We are all extremely ambitious here and, after a period of upheaval, we are working to reach our goal of getting in the top half of the table. From there, the route to European qualificatation is not far. We are slowly building something up here, step by step. We want to improve every day so that perhaps in one or two years we will be ready to say: this club with its incredible history wants to be in Europe again."
Gladbach now go to Hoffenheim in their final match before the winter break before Bayern Munich visit to test their strong home record in January.