Borussia Dortmund vs. Gladbach: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape the Game

Fresh off their recent Champions League qualification at the hands of a hearty victory over Turkish side Galatasaray, Borussia Dortmund reluctantly turn their attention back to the headache that has been their Bundesliga form of late. 

Awaiting them at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund on Sunday is none other than second placed Borussia Moenchengladbach, a side that stand second only to Bayern Munich in the form table this season. 

In what will be the 85th Borussen Derby in Bundesliga history, these two proud clubs will lock horns and fight it out to see whether one can maintain their undefeated record in the league this season or whether the other can finally get their domestic campaign rolling. 

Here is everything you need to know ahead of such a tight and important encounter. 

The Borussen Derby Needs a New Winner

Markus Schreiber/Associated Press

In what seems like some form of footballing fate, these two sides will face off in the 85th Borussen Derby to see which team takes the lead in their historic head-to-head record. 

As things stand both sides have won 28 games each, leaving an incredible 28 left to draw, meaning that whoever wins on Sunday will take the lead. 

Although it may hardly be the fiercest or most well-regarded derby in German football, such a fixture and the weight of expectation behind each side to win could make this one of the most important games of this season's Bundesliga. 

Dortmund Can Now Turn Attention to Bundesliga

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Much has been made of Dortmund's Jekyll and Hyde-like form in the Champions League and back in the Bundesliga this season.

So too their ability to compete on two fronts with limited resources and a smaller squad than Bayern Munich. Yet that should matter little now they've qualified for the last 16 of the European competition. 

Now Klopp can turn his attention back to his second priority, the league championship, and finally begin putting points on the board before Christmas. Starting with Gladbach. 

Klopp Must Choose a Striker and Stick with Him

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

In an almost mirror-perfect scenario to the form in each competition, Klopp's squad currently has a whole host of players with prolific goalscoring records in the Champions League who have yet to kick off in the league this season. 

Ciro Immobile, notably outstanding in each of his appearances in Group D this season, has managed to rack up no less than three goals in 178 minutes in Europe yet has only managed two in 391 minutes in the Bundesliga, according to WhoScored.com. 

Similar problems besiege fellow strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adrian Ramos and it has now got to the point that neither of these three strikers know whether they're coming or going from one week to the next. 

Klopp must simply stick with one, allow him to build up his goals in the league and wait until their form turns around. 

Gladbach Are the Favourites Going into This Showdown

Petros Karadjias/Associated Press

Although you may get better odds on Dortmund turning over Lucien Favre's side on Sunday night, it should be noted that by all reasonable standards the Foals are in fact the favourites going into such a tie. 

Lesser sides have come to the Westfalenstadion this season and taken home all three points, and there's absolutely no reason to believe that Dortmund are ready to overcome this driven, obedient team. 

Sitting in second without a single defeat, Gladbach travel to Dortmund fully aware of what they have to do if they are to keep up the pressure on Bayern and ultimately keep second spot before the winter break. 

Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus Will Play

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

With no news to the contrary at the time of publishing, Dortmund should welcome back Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus in what could be the first time either have played alongside each other this season in the league while fully fit. 

In a tough match that could so easily go in favour of the Foals, Klopp will take solace from the fact that his two star players should be in top shape and ready to dominate the match like only they know how. 

If Dortmund are to turn their domestic season around this weekend then such a game, with such star players, could prove vital.