Borussia Dortmund are building up a head of steam. Peter Stöger's men are unbeaten in 2018, having followed up three draws with three victories – over Cologne, Hamburg and Atalanta – in which they scored eight times. A team that always fights to the end, they have scored late goals in their last four games – including three in stoppage time.

The Black & Yellows will be looking to continue that form on Sunday. "A win will put clear daylight between ourselves and Gladbach. That's the objective," said Peter Stöger, who subsequently issued a warning: "We're up against a very dangerous opponent. Gladbach are one of our rivals for the European places." For BVB, the margins are very narrow: currently in third, they go into Matchday 23 knowing a win could lift them to second while a defeat could see them drop to fifth.

"I generally see our situation as positive, taking small steps in the right direction. The fact not everything is yet optimal is normal. But that doesn't mean that we can afford to sit back and relax," warned the coach. "We have to work very hard for our victories. But I cannot have any criticisms of the team in this respect."

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Six-points currently separate third-placed Borussia Dortmund and tenth-placed Gladbach. "It's not so long ago that they were being highly praised," said Stöger of the Foals, before adding: "You can see that football has become a weekly business, a results business even. I can see the potential their team has." It will be down to his players to stop that potential from being fulfilled on Sunday.

Despite the hectic schedule with home and away games against Atalanta, there are to be few personnel changes. Stöger "ideally" wants "to leave the team largely as it is, perhaps giving one or two players the chance to get some minutes under their belt." Preferably accompanied by another victory, which would further strengthen the team's belief in their own abilities.
Boris Rupert