Monchengladbach vs Hannover 96 preview - Favre cautious of Hannover

Posted Saturday, March 14, 2015 by PA

Borussia Monchengladbach coach Lucien Favre is reading nothing into Hannover's winless run of eight matches as he prepares his side for a serious challenge this Sunday.

The Reds last won a game in 2014, but that just makes them an even more perilous prospect, according to Favre, whose side lost third place to Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night and will be keen to win it back.

"Sides like this are particularly dangerous," said the Swiss coach. "We know that from experience.

"We went seven games without a win last year at the start of the second half of the season and in a phase like that, it's just down to minor details and that is also the case with Hannover.

"They are a well organised team and we're going to need a top performance against them if we want to win."

Having been knocked out of the Europa League in the last round by Sevilla, the Foals can now focus fully on the Bundesliga and trying to finish within the top three to ensure Champions League football at the Borussia Park Stadion next season.

"We've got some demanding games to come, but we're not looking too far ahead," said their director of sport Max Eberl.

"Our focus is purely on the Hannover game. We want the points from this game to cement our strong position."

After entertaining Hannover, Gladbach travel to Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim before hosting Borussia Dortmund, while they also face third-division Arminia Bielefeld in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal next month.

Hannover only have the league to play with, and preventing a slide into relegation danger is their priority.

"We just need one win to give us a boost," said their coach Tayfun Korkut, who may need that win to keep his job too.

Leonardo Bittencourt is suspended together with Lars Stindl while Artur Sobiech is a doubt, complicating matters further for the Turkish coach.