Borussia beaten 1-0 by Leipzig

On the fifth matchday of the Bundesliga, Borussia were beaten 1-0 in their home game against Leipzig despite an impressive performance. Timo Werner scored the only goal of the day.

In the first half, 50,122 spectators at BORUSSIA-PARK saw a dedicated and combative Foals side who did well to repel Leipzig’s strengths. The guests enjoyed more possession, but it was the Foals who had the better chances in the first half hour. The visitors first threatened the Gladbach goal shortly before half time in the 44th minute, when Nicolas tipped Carvalho’s curling effort around the post.

The guests started the second half with more urgency but without creating clear goalscoring chances, as the Borussia defence remained strong. The first big chance fell to the Foals, but Janis Blaswich stunningly tipped a good header from Rocco Reitz over the bar in the 63rd minute. Going into the final quarter of the game, the guests took the lead. After a pass by Xavi Simons, Nicolas initially managed to swipe the ball off Timo Werner’s feet, but the striker brought it back under control and was able to score from a tight angle with the help of the inside of the post on 75 minutes. Despite a lot of endeavour, the Foals could not quite find an equaliser in the time remaining, meaning that they left empty-handed despite a good performance.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Gerardo Seoane made three changes to his starting eleven from the 3-3 draw at SV Darmstadt, with Nico Elvedi, Luca Netz and Manu Koné replacing Marvin Friedrich, Nathan Ngoumou and Alassane Plea. Tactically, Borussia began with a back three of Nico Elvedi, Ko Itakura and Max Wöber ahead of goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. Joe Scally and Luca Netz functioned as wing-backs. Julian Weigl, Rocco Reitz and Manu Koné marshalled the midfield, while Franck Honorat and Jordan manned the front line.

Other than Jonas Omlin (shoulder operation), only Tomáš Čvančara (bruised thigh) missed out through injury. Manu Koné and Christoph Kramer meanwhile returned to the squad, with the former in the starting line-up and the latter on the bench.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

6’: Borussia with the first two opportunities! Firstly, Reitz’s shot is deflected wide for a corner, from which Wöber heads just over the Leipzig goal.

11’: Following another corner, Reitz jumps for a header almost unchallenged, but can’t quite steer it towards goal.

19’: Leipzig make a dangerous break into the penalty area, but Wöber slides in and rescues the situation with a great tackle.

23’: After a foul on Reitz, Borussia have a free kick centrally and 18 metres from goal. Weigl takes it and his shot is diverted wide for a corner.

44’: Nicolas saves! Carvalho cuts inside from the right of the penalty area and goes for the far corner. Nicolas stretches and brilliantly saves.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

47’: After a good passing move, Openda is able to shoot but can’t beat Nicolas.

63’: So nearly 1-0! Honorat crosses superbly from the left into the six-yard box, where Reitz meets it with a header but Blaswich claws the ball over the bar. The resulting corner is also dangerous, but Leipzig manage to clear off the line.

69’: Another dangerous corner as Wöber climbs highest but under pressure can’t get the direction on the header.

75’: Leipzig take the lead. Simons’ pass sends Werner wide, Nicolas gets to the ball and forces the striker almost to the touchline, but his shot somehow finds its way into the net via the inside of the post.

84’: Hack has lots of space in the penalty area following an Ngoumou cross, but heads over the Leipzig goal.

89’: Under strong pressure, Elvedi gets his head on the ball and directs it dangerously towards goal. Blaswich turns it away for another corner which is also dangerous. Itakura’s outstretched leg touches it just wide of the far post.

90+5’: Ngoumou lets fly from distance but it’s just wide.

STATISTICS

Borussia: Nicolas – Elvedi, Itakura, Wöber – Scally (Neuhaus 79’), Weigl, Netz – Reitz (Kramer 79’), Koné (Hack 79’) – Honorat (Ngoumou 64’), Jordan (Plea 64’) // Unused substitutes: Sippel, Friedrich, Herrmann, Jantschke

Leipzig: Blaswich – Henrichs, Simakan, Lukeba, Raum – Simons (Seiwald 84’), Schlager (Klostermann 84’), Kampl, Carvalho (Baumgartner 69’) – Openda (Poulsen 69’), Šeško (Werner 69’) // Unused substitutes: Gulácsi, Lenz, Forsberg, Moriba

Goal: 0-1 Werner (75’)

Yellow cards: Scally – Raum

Attendance: 50,122

Referee: Robert Schröder (Hanover)