Despite facing a mouth-watering top of the table clash with Bayern München in three day's time, Borussia Mönchengladbach are fully focussed on tonight’s crunch Europa League clash against Apollon Limassol. “Tonight is our priority. I am only concentrating on the Limassol match. End of discussion,” said Lucien Favre ahead of the game against the three times Cypriot champions (21:05 CEST).
The manager’s sentiments are echoed by his players; talk of the Bayern game is banned around Borussia-Park. “We are only looking at tonight’s game” said Germany U21 international Julian Korb. Having drawn both games so far, tonight’s match is hugely important; according to Yann Sommer it is “a huge match, one we need to pick up points in if we want to progress in the competition.”
Favre can select from his full squad
Christoph Kramer has recovered from illness, so Favre has his full squad available for selection. Whether the World Champion will start or not remains to be seen, with Favre saying: “We’ll see how he is later.” Regardless of the upcoming game against Bayern, it appears Favre will rotate his unbeaten team slightly – having played 13 games already this season. “We won’t make wholesale changes though, as there are no easy games in football,” explained Favre.
In contrast to Borussia, Limassol already have a victory in the Europa League group stage. Despite currently lying second in the league, Christos Christoforou left his position as manager. Tonight will be Ioan Andone’s first game in charge. “That won’t have an impact on us,” said Favre: “We’ll play our own game and try to win that way.”
The game is not going to be easy, according to André Hahn: “It’s going to be a tricky game against a tough team. We can’t underestimate them.” Only once the game again Limassol is complete, will talk of the Bayern game begin.