20.02.2010

In favour of the striker

Only a smattering of Borussia fans came out to the BORUSSIA PARK this morning to watch the training session for the players who did not play or were only used as substitutes yesterday.

The first-team regulars merely did a few laps of the stadium in recovery from the exertions of yesterday's match. Roberto Colautti remained in the dressing room, however, to loosen up his muscles on a cycle ergometer. After the 2-2 draw in Hoffenheim the Israel striker had to field more questions about his goal than the late way in which it came about. As he was unsure whether Raul Bobadilla's header would find the net to put Borussia two up, Colautti bundled the ball over the line from what initially appeared to be an offside position. It was a close call but going by the TV pictures and numerous slow-motion replays the match officials were right to rule in favour of the striker.

The unanimous view in the Borussia camp was that a 2-2 draw in Hoffenheim is not a bad result. But there was also agreement that a point was a rather meagre return in view of the way the game went. The home side were certainly worth their point because as director of sport Max Eberl pointed out, "we were really fortunate in the first half." Yet from the Gladbach viewpoint it was an equally unnecessary draw, as Hoffenheim were unsettled and Borussia were on top long after going 2-0 up.

Though VfB Stuttgart can climb above Borussia again with a draw, victory over SC Freiburg next weekend would put yesterday's draw in a totally different light. All the players used yesterday came through unscathed, so after two well-earned rest days they will all return on Tuesday to begin their preparations for next Saturday's game at the BORUSSIA PARK.