Monchengladbach vs Bayer Leverkusen preview - Duo fight for Champions League spot

Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen meet in Saturday's headline Bundesliga fixture with a place in next season's Champions League group stage on the line at the Borussia Park Stadion.

Both sides have already punched their ticket to Europe's leading club competition, but the final three games will determine who will take Germany's third automatic berth and who will have to go through a play-off in August.

Gladbach hold a two-point advantage and a win for them would effectively wrap things up with two games of the season remaining.

Leverkusen could move into pole position with an away victory, however.

"Of course it's an important game," said Gladbach coach Lucien Favre at a press conference. "But, like in any other, only three points can be gained.

"Of course we would like to win and keep hold of third place."

A draw would suit Favre too, although he told the club's website: "That depends on how the game pans out.

"If we concede an equaliser in the 90th minute, then I wouldn't be happy with a draw."

Gladbach will be without their captain Martin Stranzl, whose season is over due to injury, while Leverkusen will be without the injured Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Gonzalo Castro, while Karim Bellarabi is suspended.

"On the one hand, it doesn't get you anywhere talking about injured and suspended players, while on the other hand Leverkusen have a good enough squad to compensate anyway," said Favre, who does not see any advantage for his side in terms of personnel.

"They've got an excellent player in Julian Brandt and he will take Bellarabi's place."

Indeed, Brandt has scored in each of Leverkusen's last three matches, so Gladbach are warned not to underestimate the 19 year old or his team in a game which could be worth around 25 million euros in guaranteed prize money next season.