Preview: Hannover vs. Borussia Monchengladbach - prediction, team news, lineups

Hannover of the 2. Bundesliga will face top-flight opposition in the DFB-Pokal when they welcome Borussia Monchengladbach to the HDI-Arena.

The hosts will put a disappointing league campaign to one side as they eye up a cup upset, while Die Fohlen are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the second season in a row.

Match preview

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Hannover have struggled in their third consecutive season in the second tier of the German football pyramid as they find themselves in 12th place - six points above the relegation playoff spot.

A last-16 tie against Borussia Monchengladbach will come as a welcome distraction for Christoph Dabrowski's side, and they will be plotting an upset with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Wednesday's tie promises to be a significant occasion, with Hannover set to compete in the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal for the first time since the 2016-17 edition of the competition.

Dabrowski's men will head into the midweek encounter with some momentum after they began the new year with a 1-0 victory against Hansa Rostock at the weekend.

Having lost twice in their last nine competitive fixtures, Wednesday's hosts will believe that they can cause their Bundesliga opponents problems, and if they can pull off an upset, Hannover will take part in the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

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After thrashing Bayern Munich in the previous round, Borussia Monchengladbach will be eyeing a run into the latter stages of the competition.

Back in October, Die Fohlen sent shockwaves through Germany with their destructive 5-0 win over Julian Nagelsmann's side.

It was a result that blew the competition wide open, although if Adi Hutter's men are to reach the latter stages of the DFB-Pokal, they need to negotiate a tricky tie against 2.Bundesliga opposition.

Gladbach sit 13th in the Bundesliga in what can only be described as an underwhelming campaign thus far, and their league season took another hit on Saturday as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat in the Rhine derby against Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite their league troubles, Gladbach will be aiming for a place in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal for successive seasons, although three wins in their 11 competitive away games this season suggests that the visitors could be set for a difficult evening on Wednesday.

Team News

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Sei Muroya was withdrawn after five minutes against Hansa Rostock at the weekend due to an injury, and the 27-year-old is set to be out for several weeks.

Lukas Hinterseer is also an injury absentee, while Mike Frantz has returned to training and could feature on the bench.

Having scored three goals in his last four appearances, Linton Maina will be one of Hannover's major goal threats on Wednesday.

As for Gladbach, Denis Zakaria, Jonas Hofmann and Mamadou Doucoure all took part in some form of training on Monday, but it is unlikely that any of the trio will feature in midweek.

The visitors are also missing the services of Ramy Bensebaini, who is currently representing Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Joe Scally returned from a coronavirus-enforced absence to feature as a second-half substitute at the weekend, and he could come into the starting lineup for Wednesday's cup fixture.

Hannover possible starting lineup:
Zieler; Dehm, Franke, Borner, Hult; Ondoua, Diemers, Kerk; Teuchert, Maina, Beier

Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Elvedi, Friedrich, Jantschke; Scally, Benes, Kone, Netz; Neuhaus, Stindl, Embolo

We say: Hannover 1-2 Borussia Monchengladbach

Having won the last four competitive meetings between the two sides, Borussia Monchengladbach should have enough quality to once again come out on top against Hannover, although we expect the hosts to run their Bundesliga opponents close.

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