Borussia Monchengladbach and Chelsea will both round off their preparations for the 2019-20 campaign with a friendly match in Germany on Saturday afternoon.
Gladbach will take on Sandhausen in the DFB-Pokal on August 9, while Chelsea will open their Premier League season away to Manchester United on August 11.
Borussia Monchengladbach
© ReutersGladbach have been in electric form during their preparations for the 2019-20 season, winning five of their six matches, with their only defeat coming against Athletic Bilbao last weekend. This will be their toughest friendly of the summer on paper, but that is what is required as the start of competitive action draws closer.
The German side put four answered goals past Guangzhou R&F before thumping FC Monchengladbach 8-0 in their second pre-season match. A 5-1 win over Istanbul Basaksehir followed, before back-to-back victories over Rayo Vallecano and Angers ahead of the loss to La Liga outfit Bilbao.
Like Chelsea, Gladbach are also under new management with Marco Rose replacing Dieter Hecking, who has taken control of Hamburger SV. Rose won 82 of his 114 matches in charge of RB Leipzig, but the 52-year-old will have a tough task improving on Gladbach's fifth-placed Bundesliga finish from the 2018-19 campaign.
Marcus Thuram and Breel Embolo have both arrived this summer to boost the attack, but Thorgan Hazard has left for Borussia Dortmund in what is a big blow. The Belgium international scored 13 times and contributed 12 assists in 35 matches last season, and he will be a miss in the new campaign.
As mentioned, Die Fohlen will take on Sandbausen in the DFB-Pokal on August 9, before opening their 2019-20 Bundesliga campaign against Schalke 04 on August 17. Rose will certainly have been encouraged by his team's performances this summer, but it is difficult to read too much into pre-season form.
It will surprisingly be the first time that Gladbach have faced Chelsea. The German outfit have taken on Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Everton previously, but Saturday's clash at Borussia-Park will represent the first ever meeting between the two teams.
Like Chelsea, the Bundesliga outfit will switch their focus from pre-season mode this weekend with the start of competitive action just around the corner.
Recent form: WWWWWL
Chelsea
© ReutersChelsea's pre-season started with a 1-1 draw against Bohemians on July 10, and the Blues have won four of their five matches since then. Indeed, they also overcame St Patrick's Athletic before losing to Kawasaki Frontale. Since the defeat, though, three straight wins have arrived.
Frank Lampard's side recorded an impressive 2-1 victory over Barcelona before a 4-3 success over Reading last weekend. The London giants then won 5-3 at RB Salzburg on Wednesday, with the goals continuing to flow ahead of the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
New arrival Christian Pulisic scored twice in the victory over Salzburg, but Lampard admitted after the match that the team's defensive problems were a concern, particularly this close to the new season.
Chelsea's transfer ban means that they have been unable to sign any new players this summer, although a permanent move for Mateo Kovacic has been secured with an agreement already in place. Eden Hazard has moved on, though, which will leave a huge hole in the team.
Lampard should be given time and space to make his mark as head coach, but a poor start to the new campaign would lead to a lot of early pressure. Indeed, after travelling to United on August 11, the Blues face Champions League holders Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup on August 14.
Chelsea's second Premier League game is a potential banana skin at home to Leicester City, and it is vital that the club make a positive start to the new season.
The likes of Danny Drinkwater, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Kenedy are still with the Blues despite a host of speculation, and the transfer ban means that Lampard is working under different circumstances. Mason Mount excelled under the legendary midfielder at Derby County last term, though, and is one player who could bring some freshness to the team in the coming season.
It has been a quick turnaround when it comes to this match as the team only touched down in London on Thursday afternoon following the Salzburg clash. The players will be back on a plane on Friday, though, heading to Germany for their final pre-season clash of a busy summer.
Recent form: DWLWWW
Team News
© ReutersGladbach will be without the services of Christoph Kramer due to a knee problem, but club captain Lars Stindl could play a part as he looks to recover from a fractured shin.
There could also be a spot in the XI for 20-year-old Keanan Bennetts. The Englishman joined Gladbach from Tottenham Hotspur in July 2018 and has been involved in the team's preparations for the new season.
Embolo could feature for the German side off the bench, while the likes of vice-captain Yann Sommer, Alassane Plea and Tobias Stobl are all expected to start.
As for Chelsea, Antonio Rudiger has stepped up his recovery from knee surgery, but the centre-back is still unavailable. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile, are still absent with Achilles injuries.
Lampard is expected to make changes from the clash against Salzburg, meaning that Michy Batshuayi, Mount, Marcos Alonso and Andreas Christensen could all come into the XI.
N'Golo Kante's inclusion is unclear, though, with the France international battling to overcome a knee injury ahead of the clash against United at Old Trafford.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Rainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Wendt; Neuhaus, Strobl, Cuisance; Benes; Plea, Bennetts
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Alonso; Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Mount, Pulisic; Batshuayi
Head To Head
As mentioned, these two teams have never locked horns. However, Gladbach have faced English opposition on 15 occasions - winning five of those encounters and suffering seven defeats.
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-2 Chelsea
Both Gladbach and Chelsea have been full of goals during pre-season, and we are expecting an open game in Germany this weekend. That said, we are finding it difficult to separate the two sides.
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