Mönchengladbach v Zürich background

VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach will look to seal qualification as they take on FC Zürich bidding to retain top spot in UEFA Europa League Group A.

• A win would guarantee Gladbach top spot in the section; they will also qualify for the round of 32 if they draw.

• Zürich must win if they are to qualify; a draw would not be enough due to their head-to-head record against Villarreal CF.

Form guide
• Håvard Nordtveit's stunning strike earned Mönchengladbach a 1-1 draw when the sides met in Switzerland on matchday two.

• Zürich are yet to win in six trips to Germany (D1 L5) and have failed to score on their last three visits.

• Gladbach are unbeaten in six European home games (W4 D2); they have scored at least once in their last 13 European home fixtures.

• Zürich have won only one of their last 11 European away games, the other nine ending D2 L8.

Trivia and links
• Eleven of Mönchengladbach's 21 goals since they entered the competition in the play-offs this season have been scored from outside the area.

• Gladbach defender Fabian Johnson turns 27 on the day of the Zürich game.

• Mönchengladbach's Brazilian forward Raffael played at Zürich from 2005 to 2007, winning two league titles under the leadership of his current coach, Lucien Favre.

• Zürich forward Amine Chermiti played alongside Mönchengladbach's Raffael and Ibrahima Traoré – and under Favre – during his time at Hertha BSC Berlin (2008–10). Team-mate Mario Gavranović has also played in Germany (FC Schalke 04, 1. FSV Mainz 05).

• Mönchengladbach's Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer played for Zürich's local rivals Grasshopper Club while on loan from FC Basel 1893 in 2009/10. Sommer's fellow Swiss international – and Basel old boy – Granit Xhaka also plays for Gladbach. Sommer and Xhaka were team-mates of Zürich's Gilles Yapi at Basel from 2010 to 2012.

The coaches
• Swiss coach Lucien Favre is leading Mönchengladbach into a second UEFA Europa League group stage campaign, having steered them to the round of 32 in 2012/13. The former Switzerland midfielder won two national titles and a Swiss Cup in charge of FC Zürich, and coached Hertha BSC Berlin before taking over Mönchengladbach in 2011.

• Not to be confused with the famous Swiss referee with whom he shares a name, Zürich coach Urs Meier was a defender for the likes of FC Schaffhausen, AC Bellinzona and Grasshopper Club before moving into coaching. Briefly in charge of the Liechtenstein national team, he took charge of his hometown club in 2012, having thrived at the helm of their youth side.