Monchengladbach vs Borussia Dortmund preview - Klopp: Cup will have no bearing

Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach both need to put their respective DFB-Pokal joy and sorrow behind them when they meet in the battle of the Borussias this weekend.

Dortmund reached the semi-finals thanks to an extra-time victory over Hoffenheim, but Gladbach were knocked out on penalties by third-division Arminia Bielefeld.

In the Bundesliga, Gladbach are in a much stronger position with a 10-point cushion over fifth-placed Schalke in the hunt for a place in the Champions League, while Dortmund are six adrift of sixth-placed Augsburg as they pursue a Europa League spot.

Qualification for Europe via the cup may therefore be more likely for Dortmund, who are aware that defeat in Monchengladbach would all but end their hopes of catching seventh-placed Hoffenheim and sneaking into the Europa League that way.

"We know how far from seventh we are, but we can't just take getting the points for granted," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

"Regardless of whether winning the cup means we would qualify for Europe, we're talking about winning a title.

"This is the phase of the season when everything is decided and we've got to be ready.

"I think we're heading in the right direction, even if we keep suffering setbacks. We've got to carry on."

Klopp does not expect Gladbach to be affected too much by their defeat to Bielefeld, saying that they "have the chance to qualify for the Champions League so they've still got a lot to play for".

"It's going to be a really good game of football," he predicted. "The stakes are huge for both sides and I doubt the cup's going to have much of an influence."

According to Klopp's opposite number Lucien Favre, Gladbach got it mentally all wrong against Bielefeld and that is a mistake they must not repeat.

"When you start talking about the final already when you are only in the quarter-finals, then it's always dangerous," said the Swiss.

"If your thoughts are already on other things before such a game, then it's always difficult."

Gladbach will be fully focused on Dortmund this Saturday, with one objective left for the final seven games of the season.

"The cup's over now and we don't have much time to stomach it," he said. "We've got a tricky run of fixtures, but we are professionals and we've had a good season so far."