Matchday 6 of the 2020/21 season, Borussia deny RB Leipzig a return to the top of the Bundesliga table, handing them their first defeat of the campaign. Leipzig loanee, Hannes Wolf, gets the only goal of the game as Gladbach celebrate their first ever win against Leipzig.
Both teams played with high intensity and demonstrated great tactical discipline in a game that was largely characterised by pressing at both ends. The first half saw little-to-no chances for either side, despite Leipzig attacking with a lot more purpose than the hosts to begin with. Aside from forcing Yann Sommer into a reflex save in the 10th minute, however, they too did very little to cause Rose’s men real danger. On the stroke of half time, Alassane Plea had the ball in the back of Leipzig’s net thanks to some great awareness from his teammates after a Gulacsi goal-kick, but, as many in the ground suspected, the Frenchman was offside. The flag was raised correctly and the teams went in for the 15 minute break.
Less than three minutes into the second half, it was clear that the game would open up somewhat for Gladbach, as Leipzig set out to go in search of the winner. Hofmann intercepted an Upamecano pass and set up Plea for the first Gladbach chance of the game (48’). Another half-chance fell to player not long after, but on both occasions Willi Orban made life difficult for the Gladbach man, preventing a serious attempt on goal. On the hour mark, Bensebaini played a square ball to Plea, who hit it low into the area where Herrmann provided the perfect touch to lay the ball off for none other than Hannes Wolf. The boy on loan from Leipzig placed it expertly into the far corner of the goal past Gulacsi for his first ever Bundesliga goal.
Momentum now in their favour, Borussia pushed for a second and came agonisingly close in the 67th minute as Plea struck the crossbar after a fine move down the right. Leipzig managed to settle things down again soon, but in the end failed to find an equaliser. Final score: 1-0 to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
TEAM NEWS
Marco Rose made three changes from the starting XI against Real Madrid midweek: Christoph Kramer, Lars Stindl and Marcus Thuram moved to the bench, making way for Patrick Herrmann, Hanns Wolf and Breel Embolo.
Apart from Denis Zakaria (fitness training) and Andreas Poulsen (shoulder), Marco Rose had everyone available. Valentino Lazaro was included in a Bundesliga matchday squad for the first time and came on in the closing stages to see out the win.
MATCH FACTS
Borussia: Sommer – Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi (46' Wendt), Bensebaini – Hofmann, Neuhaus (73' Kramer) – Herrmann (80' Lazaro), Embolo (73' Thuram), Wolf – Plea (80' Stindl)
Leipzig: Gulásci – Henrichs, Orban, Upamecano, Angelino – Kampl (66' Haidara) – Sabitzer, Olmo (66' Forsberg) – Samardzic (69' Nkunku) – Poulsen, Sørloth
Goals: 1-0 Wolf (60')
Yellow cards: Wendt, Neuhaus / Kampl, Hee-Chan, Sabitzer, Nkunku
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)
Spectators: 0
31.10.2020
