Borussia M – Leverkusen

Borussia Gladbach will try to contain a more classy opponent

The opening match of the new Bundesliga season on Friday will feature the German champions. It is still worth getting used to using this phrase not in relation to Bayern or even Borussia Dortmund. Bayer Leverkusen spent last season at a fantastic level, managing not only to triumph, but also to leave a final zero in the defeat column. Borussia Gladbach, compared to their upcoming opponents, do not have to be proud of the past season. Last season's Bundesliga draw could well have ended with the team's relegation from the elite division. Each of the clubs made some personnel changes in the off-season and are determined to start with a successful outcome. Bookmakers have identified the guests as favourites for the meeting, offering odds of 1.61 on their victory. Bayer last season not only won the national championship, but also made a "golden double". In the German Cup, the team long before the final lost all potential competitors for the title, eventually meeting in the decisive match with Kaiserslautern. The representative of the Second Bundesliga failed to provide worthy resistance to the "pharmacists", which translated into a victory for Bayer at the end of the main time. In the off-season, the Leverkusen club retained the core of the team, getting rid of several stale players. Meanwhile, Bayer's ranks were enriched with Rennes players Belosyan and Terje, as well as Girona midfielder Garcia. Last Saturday, the "pharmacists" put the German Super Cup in the trophy cabinet. Already in the 37th minute Bayer remained in the minority, but got to a penalty shootout, the result of which turned out to be sinless. Borussia Gladbach finished the past championship in fourteenth place, one point ahead of the position of transitional meetings for the right to retain a place in the Bundesliga. Such results can not but worry the management and fans of the club. Borussia did not make any revolutionary changes during the transfer window. From Heidenheim acquired its best striker Kleindienst, as well as attracted several free agents and less expensive players. The hosts will definitely pay maximum attention to the defence of their own goal, which does not bode well for the high performance of the meeting.