DFB.de regularly introduces a player that has a big game coming up. Today: Max Kruse, who will take on Sevilla FC with Borussia Mönchengladbach tonight (21:05 CET) in the first knockout round of the Europa League.
World Champion Max Kruse and Borussia Mönchengladbach will take on Sevilla FC tonight in the first leg of their last 32 tie in the Europa League. Kruse and Gladbach are playing the defending champions and the 26-year-old believes that they’ve been handed the toughest draw in the competition. You can’t prove either way as to whether that is true, but it’s clear that Sevilla will be anything but an easy opposition.
Kruse also believes that it’s favourable to play away from home first. “Everyone always says that it’s a small advantage,” he said. “We should try to get that into our heads in order to motivate us even more. It would be really good if we could score a goal or two.” But we’ll have to see if Kruse’s claim comes true. He went on to say: “We know that Sevilla are strong away from home too.”
Kruse hoping for “a positive outcome”
The reigning champions finished second in their group behind Feyenoord. At home, Unai Emery’s side beat the Dutch side 2-0, Standard Liege 3-1 and Croatian side Rijeka 1-0. Sevilla drew two of their games away from home: 2-2 in Rijeka and 0-0 in Liege and lost the other in Rotterdam 2-0. Kruse is right to think that Sevilla are strong away from home as they have already won five games on the road in the league so far this season.
But their weakness on the road in Europe isn’t going to affect Kruse, especially ahead of the game in Sevilla. “Sevilla have shown this season, whether it be in the Europa League or the Primera Division, that you cannot underestimate them,” he said. “I think there will be two interesting games and hopefully there’ll be a positive outcome for us.”
Game between European heavyweights
The game between Sevilla and Gladbach will have a particular significance about it due to both clubs’ history. Both clubs have won the UEFA Cup, or as it is now known the Europa League, five times between them. Sevilla were victorious in 2006, 2007 and 2014, whilst Gladbach won the competition in 1975 and 1979. But there haven’t been many meaningful games between the two sides in the past. Three years ago, Sevilla visited Borussia during pre season but there was no winner as the game finished goalless. But times have changed. The first meaningful meeting between the sides will take place over two legs, with the first taking place tonight at 21:05 CET in Spain.
After riots following Borussia’s 1-0 derby win against Köln, Gladbach travel to Spain with some good news. “Everyone is on board and we have no injuries to report,” said manager Lucien Favre, who knows that Sevilla will be strong at home.
Sevilla have made winning at home a regular occurrence. The Spanish side are currently unbeaten in their twelve games at home in the Primera Division so far this season and they have also been victorious in their five home games in this season’s Europa League. Favre also warned of the quality of the opposition: “They’re defending champions and that says a lot about their quality.”
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DFB.de regularly introduces a player that has a big game coming up. Today: Max Kruse, who will take on Sevilla FC with Borussia Mönchengladbach tonight (21:05 CET) in the first knockout round of the Europa League.
World Champion Max Kruse and Borussia Mönchengladbach will take on Sevilla FC tonight in the first leg of their last 32 tie in the Europa League. Kruse and Gladbach are playing the defending champions and the 26-year-old believes that they’ve been handed the toughest draw in the competition. You can’t prove either way as to whether that is true, but it’s clear that Sevilla will be anything but an easy opposition.
Kruse also believes that it’s favourable to play away from home first. “Everyone always says that it’s a small advantage,” he said. “We should try to get that into our heads in order to motivate us even more. It would be really good if we could score a goal or two.” But we’ll have to see if Kruse’s claim comes true. He went on to say: “We know that Sevilla are strong away from home too.”
Kruse hoping for “a positive outcome”
The reigning champions finished second in their group behind Feyenoord. At home, Unai Emery’s side beat the Dutch side 2-0, Standard Liege 3-1 and Croatian side Rijeka 1-0. Sevilla drew two of their games away from home: 2-2 in Rijeka and 0-0 in Liege and lost the other in Rotterdam 2-0. Kruse is right to think that Sevilla are strong away from home as they have already won five games on the road in the league so far this season.
But their weakness on the road in Europe isn’t going to affect Kruse, especially ahead of the game in Sevilla. “Sevilla have shown this season, whether it be in the Europa League or the Primera Division, that you cannot underestimate them,” he said. “I think there will be two interesting games and hopefully there’ll be a positive outcome for us.”
Game between European heavyweights
The game between Sevilla and Gladbach will have a particular significance about it due to both clubs’ history. Both clubs have won the UEFA Cup, or as it is now known the Europa League, five times between them. Sevilla were victorious in 2006, 2007 and 2014, whilst Gladbach won the competition in 1975 and 1979. But there haven’t been many meaningful games between the two sides in the past. Three years ago, Sevilla visited Borussia during pre season but there was no winner as the game finished goalless. But times have changed. The first meaningful meeting between the sides will take place over two legs, with the first taking place tonight at 21:05 CET in Spain.
After riots following Borussia’s 1-0 derby win against Köln, Gladbach travel to Spain with some good news. “Everyone is on board and we have no injuries to report,” said manager Lucien Favre, who knows that Sevilla will be strong at home.
Sevilla have made winning at home a regular occurrence. The Spanish side are currently unbeaten in their twelve games at home in the Primera Division so far this season and they have also been victorious in their five home games in this season’s Europa League. Favre also warned of the quality of the opposition: “They’re defending champions and that says a lot about their quality.”
