… Former Werder centre-back Jannik Vestergaard has a new partner in Gladbach’s defence? Former BVB defender and World Cup winner Matthias Ginter was signed by Borussia in order to cover the loss of Andreas Christensen, who returns to Chelsea after a successful two-year loan spell with the Fohlenelf. Saturday’s game could feature former Werder centre-back Jannik Vestergaard partnered with Ginter to form a pairing in the heart of Gladbach’s defence. There have been signings at the centre of midfield for Borussia too, with Denis Zakaria, formerly of BSC Young Boys, joining the club as Mahmoud Dahoud’s successor, who has gone to BVB. Vincenzo Grifo has become a Foal too, after leaving SC Freiburg for Borussia, and is someone that Delaney, Bargfrede and the rest of the team will certainly have to look out for on Saturday, as Grifo has scored two goals in three games against SV Werder.
… SV Werder fans should have hope if the game goes to penalties? The Green-Whites’ history shows that penalties have been a strong-suit for the club. SV Werder have won nine of fourteen penalty shootouts. Meanwhile, Borussia have a negative record of 12 losses on penalties, having only won five of their seventeen. Should it come to down to a shootout, then it would certainly make for an exciting spectacle. In addition, the Green-Whites will have positive memories of penalty shootouts in the Telekom Cup, after they won two penalty shootouts to lift the trophy back in 2012, when they last took part in the tournament.
