Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Karlsruhe 27.10.2026: Prediction, Betting Tips and Match Preview

After seven attempts, Borussia Mönchengladbach finally broke their winless streak in the Bundesliga and now look to carry that momentum into the DFB-Pokal second round. Their opponent, Karlsruhe, arrives with a well-documented weakness in away fixtures. The two sides met at this same stage last season, with the elite club cruising to a 3-1 victory. The question now is whether the visitors can turn the tables and exact revenge.

Borussia Mönchengladbach: Injuries Fail to Slow the Attack

Following four consecutive losses to open the league campaign, Borussia Mönchengladbach handed the reins to Alexander Blessin, a coach committed to an attacking, high‑tempo style. Instead of an immediate turnaround, the team slipped to the bottom of the Bundesliga table after two more defeats. At home, they fell to Elversberg (3‑4), Mainz (3‑4), and Hoffenheim (1‑2). The root cause is a severe injury crisis. The list of sidelined players includes centre‑backs Jan Leshchinsky and captain Tim Kleindienst, attacking talents Franck Onora and Isak Lidberg, as well as central‑axis figures Fritz Fleck and Enzo Leopold. Kevin Dix also missed the last league match for personal reasons. On the positive side, defenders Ko Itakura and midfielder Jens Kastrop may be available.

Despite the depleted roster, Blessin’s attacking concepts are functioning well. In the Bundesliga, Borussia generates an average of 1.66 expected goals (xG) per game and converts those chances into 1.57 actual goals per match. In the DFB-Pokal first round, they crushed Schott Mainz 5‑0 on the road. Moreover, in the last five editions of the tournament, Borussia hosted the second round three times and never lost on home soil.

Karlsruhe: Away Games Are a Major Headache

Karlsruhe’s start in Bundesliga 2 has been nearly as shaky as their upcoming opponents’. Their few bright spots have come exclusively at home; away from their own ground, they are still searching for a first victory, and the trend is worsening. After two draws came defeats, and while the loss to St. Pauli (0‑2) was competitive, the thrashing at Magdeburg (1‑6) was a rout. Maximilian Senft’s side once again exposed defensive frailties on the road. In Bundesliga 2, Karlsruhe allows opponents to create 1.67 xG at their goal but actually concedes 2.5 goals per game. In their last three away matches, they have allowed at least two goals each time.

The cup offered no respite: in the first round, they laboured to a 2‑1 win over Preußen Münster, a side from a lower division. Personnel issues are minimal. In defence, only centre‑back Heliton is unavailable, having played just one league game. In attack, the absence of Moritz Broshinsky is keenly felt—he scored two goals in two league appearances and added an assist in the cup. Historically, Karlsruhe have not advanced past the second round in four of the last five DFB-Pokal campaigns.

Predicted Lineups

Borussia Mönchengladbach (3‑4‑2‑1): Nicolas – Hasioka, Sander, Herold – Konoplya, Uno, Neuhaus, Ullrich – Hack, Bolin – Matino

Unavailable: Onora, Kleindienst, Leopold, Leshchinsky, Fleck, Lidberg (all injured); Kastrop, Itakura, Kühn, Skalli (all doubtful); Dix (personal reasons)

Head coach: Alexander Blessin

Karlsruhe (3‑4‑1‑2): Bernat – Kobald, Franks, Tremoulet – Jung, Weithaup, Väänänen, Berg – Wanitzek – Fukuda, Aichinger

Unavailable: Broshinsky, Heliton (both injured)

Head coach: Maximilian Senft

Prediction and Bet

Main prediction: Borussia Mönchengladbach started the Bundesliga with six straight defeats, but they are still favourites for this cup clash. The team has adapted to the new coach’s ideas, creating plenty in attack (averaging 1.66 xG) and finding the net (seven goals in three home league matches). They are also adjusting to defensive losses, cutting the goals conceded from four per game at the start to two. Against Karlsruhe, they should have every chance to play their best football. Karlsruhe are inconsistent on the road, having moved from draws to defeats by margins of two or more goals. Even in the cup, they conceded to a lower‑division opponent. By contrast, Borussia are proven cup fighters at home—they dismantled Bayern 5‑0 in the second round of the 2021/22 season. Last year’s meeting underlined the gap between these sides. Backed by the momentum of their recent league win, the recommendation is a victory for Borussia Mönchengladbach with a handicap of -1.5 at odds of 1.78.

Total prediction: As noted, Borussia have scored seven goals in three home league matches and added five on the road in the cup. At the same time, they concede an average of 3.33 goals at home. Karlsruhe, in Bundesliga 2, score 0.75 goals per away game, have found the net twice on the road in the cup, and did score against Borussia last year. Therefore, a bet on both teams to score at odds of 1.78 also holds appeal.