UEFA Europa League Group J: what Borussia Mönchengladbach should look out for against Roma, Istanbul Basaksehir and Wolfsberger
With Roma, Istanbul Basaksehir and Wolfsberger for company in Group J, what challenges await Borussia Mönchengladbach in Europe?
bundesliga.com tells you all you need to know…
How they got there
In a tight race for European places, Gladbach did enough to qualify by finishing fifth in last season’s Bundesliga.
Key player
Alassane Plea ended last term as Gladbach’s top goalscorer with 12 goals, and he was joined at the club this summer by fellow French forward Marcus Thuram. But another new arrival, Breel Embolo, could also be vital to the Foals’ chances this year. The Swiss striker has started the season well, and it could be a big campaign for the 22-year-old as he looks to put his rotten luck with injuries behind him.
Aims in the competition
New head coach Marco Rose went deep in the Europa League with Austrian champions Salzburg in each of the past two seasons, and he’ll look to do likewise again.
Roma
Dates Gladbach play them
Thursday 24 October Roma vs. Gladbach (Matchday 3)
Thursday 8 November Gladbach vs. Roma (Matchday 4)
How they got there
Having reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2017/18 and the round of 16 last season, Roma have to make do with the Europa League this year after finishing 6th in Serie A in 2018/19.
Key player
A forward who will need little introduction for Bundesliga fans, Edin Dzeko has aged, but is still the main man for the Italians. The 33-year-old scored 26 league goals and formed part of a devastating 54-goal partnership with Grafite when Wolfsburg became Bundesliga champions in 2008/09.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international continued to find the net regularly when he left Germany for Manchester City in 2011, and he has done so again since joining Roma. Now in his fifth season in Italy, Dzeko scored 13 goals in the Champions League over the past two seasons.
Watch: Learn more about Dzeko's memorable time in the Bundesliga
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Gladbach’s path to victory
As well as keeping Dzeko quiet, Wolfsburg need to take care of the glut of other dangerous players on Roma's books. Justin Kluivert, Cengiz Under, Nicolo Zaniolo and Henrikh Mkhitaryan can all provide useful support to the lone striker, while attacking left-back Aleksander Kolarov is another threat to keep tabs on. The Italians lost centre-back Kostas Manolas during the summer, a key member of the squad over the last few seasons.
Familiar Faces
Dzeko, who scored 85 goals in 142 games for Wolfsburg, is unbeaten in five matches against Gladbach. He scored three times in his previous games against the Foals. Mkhitaryan, meanwhile, registered 41 goals and 49 assists for Borussia Dortmund between 2013 and 2016. The Armenian playmaker, who joined Roma on loan from Arsenal in early September, netted three times in two victories over Gladbach in the 2015/16 season. But he was also on the losing side on two of his three previous trips there.
Istanbul Basaksehir
Dates Gladbach play them
Thursday 3 October Basaksehir vs. Gladbach (Matchday 2)
Thursday 12 December Gladbach vs. Basaksehir (Matchday 6)
How they got there
Basaksehir were pipped to the Turkish title by Galatasaray at the back end of last season, meaning they started out 2019/20 in the UEFA Champions Leauge play-off round. They lost 1-0 at home and 2-0 away against Olympiacos, however, dropping into the Europa League group stage as third seeds.
Key player
Veteran former Manchester City players Gael Clichy and Robinho and on-loan Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan are among the bigger names in the squad, but Edin Visca was the star last season. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international has been with the Turkish club for nine seasons since leaving his homeland, and last year was one his most productive to date. The 29-year-old right winger finished with 13 goals and 14 assists in the Turkish Super League and will be keen to make an impact on the European stage.
Gladbach’s path to victory
Basaksehir conceded only 22 goals in 34 league games last season, by far the best defensive record in the Turkish Super League. Former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has since arrived to add his vast experience, while the same goes for fellow veteran Mehmet Topal in midfield. Shut down Robinho, Turan and Visca, though, and Gladbach will be well on the way to success.
Familiar Faces
There are several former Bundesliga players in the Basaksehir squad, most notably Senegalese forward Demba Ba. The 34-year-old scored 40 goals in 106 matches for Hoffenheim between 2007 and 2011, combining for 32 goals with Vedad Ibisevic as Ralf Rangnick’s newcomers took the Bundesliga by storm to become autumn champions in 2008/09. Dutch winger Eljero Elia played for Hamburg (2009-11) and Werder Bremen (2012-15), while Serbian midfielder Milos Jojic was with Borussia Dortmund and Cologne before moving to Turkey in 2018. Ex-Schalke full-back Junior Caicara was on the Basaksehir team that lost and drew with Hoffenheim in the 2017/18 group stage. Norwegian striker Fredrik Gulbrandsen, meanwhile, was the matchwinner for Salzburg in both their Europa League group matches against RB Leipzig last season.
Wolfsberger
Dates Gladbach play them
Thursday 19 September Gladbach 0-4 Wolfsberger (Matchday 1)
Thursday 28 November Wolfsberger vs. Gladbach (Matchday 5)
How they got there
Promoted to the Austrian Bundesliga for the first time in 2012, Wolfsberger are making their maiden appearance in the group stage of a European competition after finishing third in their league last season.
Key player
Ex-Fortuna Düsseldorf and 1860 Munich midfielder Michael Liendl conducted the orchestra last season, scoring 11 goals in the league and making just as many. The 33-year-old has already dished out plenty of assists again this term, and he’ll be looking to keep providing adequate service for in-form summer signing Shon Weissman. A 23-year-old Isreali attacker, Weissman had a dream start after his summer move from Maccabi Haifa - netting twice on his debut in the Austrian Cup before scoring seven goals in his first four league matches.
Gladbach’s path to victory
The Foals can make the most of Wolfsberger’s lack of experience at this level. The Austrians were swept aside 6-0 on aggregate by Dortmund in the third qualifying round in 2015/16 on their only previous appearance in the Europa League, though they did beat Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus to get that far. They’re from a small town and are used to playing at a ground with a capacity of just over 7,000. With former Salzburg coach Rose at the helm, Gladbach also have an added advantage in knowing all about them.
Familiar Faces
German left-back Lukas Schmitz is a former Schalke and Werder Bremen player who only moved to Wolfsberger from Düsseldorf in 2018. Liendl spent a year in Düsseldorf and two with 1860 between 2014 and 2017, while Romano Schmid is on loan from Bremen. Dominik Baumgartner – older brother of Hoffenheim midfielder Christoph – is a recent loan signing from Bundesliga 2 side Bochum.
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