The 2024/25 Bundesliga season kicks off on Friday night as champions Bayer Leverkusen begin their title defence with a trip to Borussia Monchengladbach.

Xabi Alonso’s side went unbeaten across all domestic competitions last season to claim the Meisterschale, also sealing a return to the Champions League in the process.

Upcoming opponents Gladbach have dropped down the league standings every season since coming fourth in 2020/21, with their effort of 14th last term their worst placing in 13 years.

Here’s 90min’s preview of the encounter on Friday night.

Borussia Monchengladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Gladbach have attempted to move quickly in the summer transfer window as they seek to move on from last season’s disappointments, bringing in striker Tim Kleindienst and midfielder Kevin Stoger. Both could earn starts on the opening weekend.

Defender Nico Elvedi is hopeful of recovering in time from a foot injury, while Robin Hack could return to the squad having suffered with illness.

Reserve goalkeeper Jan Olschowsky won’t return to the matchday squad until October due to a knee problem and youngster Yvandro Borges Sanches has an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Borussia Monchengladbach predicted lineup vs Bayer Leverkusen (4-2-3-1): Omlin; Scally, Ikatura, Elvedi, Netz; Reitz, Weigl; Honorat, Stoger, Plea; Kleindienst.

Leverkusen have managed to retain the core of their impressive squad, most of whom featured in the DFL-Supercup success against Stuttgart. The game ended 1-1 but Xabi Alonso’s side were triumphant in the penalty shootout.

Argentina international Exequiel Palacios is continuing his recovery from a knee operation but the visitors otherwise have a fit squad to take into this Rhine derby.

Florian Wirtz, Alex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong all came off the bench in the Supercup but should make the starting XI, while striker Victor Boniface is available despite being handed a one-match ban and a €25,000 fine for an offensive gesture at the weekend.

Bayer Leverkusen predicted lineup vs Borussia Monchengladbach (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Adli; Boniface.

Leverkusen won the hearts and minds of most neutrals last season by ending Bayern Munich’s perennial dominance of the Bundesliga but Alonso won’t want them to keel over for Vincent Kompany’s outfit during their defence this time around.

Instead, the reigning champions will be hungry for a fast start to their title defence on Friday night. A heavy pre-season defeat to Arsenal showed they aren’t in their unstoppable rhythm just yet, but they should have more than enough to pick up three points at Gladbach to start the campaign.

Prediction: Borussia Monchengladbach 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen

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