Juventus vs Monchengladbach - Monchengladbach aim to end losing run

Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2015 by PA

Borussia Monchengladbach will be hoping it will be a case of third time lucky when they travel to Juventus on Wednesday night, still seeking their first Champions League success since 1978.

The Foals have lost their first two games back in Europe's elite club competition, but they head to Turin to face last season's beaten finalists in a different shape and much improved frame of mind to their last two group encounters.

Under the caretaker stewardship of Andre Schubert, the Bundesliga side are on a run of four straight wins and they now hope to carry this resurgent form on to the European stage.

"Our recent successes have cleared our minds a lot compared to the trip to Seville, for example," said defender Tony Jantschke prior to their departure for Italy.

"We've got a lot of self-confidence and I hope we'll show this tomorrow."

Gladbach were beaten 3-0 by Sevilla on their Champions League return before going down 2-1 at home to Manchester City, meaning they can ill-afford another defeat against the unbeaten group leaders if they want to stand a chance of progressing.

Wednesday's match could well be their most difficult yet, however.

"They're a really good team," Jantschke said on his club's website. "They've not lost at home in what seems like an eternity.

"But we've got to pick up points somewhere if we want to maintain a chance of going through."

The injured trio of Martin Stranzl, Patrick Herrmann and Nico Schulz have all been left behind, with a squad of 21 players making the trip to Turin.

After winning their opening two games, the Bianconeri could all but wrap up a place in the last 16 with another win at the Juventus Stadium, where they last lost in a European game to another German side - Bayern Munich - three seasons ago.

There was relief for the Serie A side on Tuesday when goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who picked up a knock at the weekend, was able to train.

Mario Mandzukic, who scored for Bayern in that April 2013 clash at the Juventus Stadium, is set to lead the attack having made his comeback from injury in Sunday's 0-0 draw at Inter Milan.