Borussia held to 1-1 draw by Stuttgart

Matchday 8’s Topspiel in the Bundesliga saw Borussia Mönchengladbach draw 1-1 with VfB Stuttgart. Jonas Hofmann’s brilliant volley cancelled out an equally impressive strike from Konstantinos Mavropanos in the first half.

BORUSSIA-PARK was able to welcome 41,608 spectators following new coronavirus regulations in North-Rhine Westphalia, and they saw a breath-taking first half during with the Foals mustered 15 shot attempts compared to Stuttgart’s two. However, it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play, when Konstantinos Mavropanos unleashed a powerful strike from around 30 yards that flew all the way into the bottom corner. Gladbach responded before the interval thanks to Jonas Hofmann’s speculative volley following a corner that whistled past everyone to make it 1-1. Borussia continued to enjoy more possession in the second half and created a number of decent chances, but some resilient defending and goalkeeping from VfB ensured that the match ended level.

TEAM NEWS

Adi Hütter didn’t make any changes to the side that won 3-1 at VfL Wolfsburg two weeks ago ahead of the international break. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer was protected by a back-three of Jordan Beyer, Matthias Ginter and Nico Elvedi, while Joe Scally and Luca Netz took up more advanced full-back positions on the right and left flanks respectively. Denis Zakaria paired up with Manu Koné in central midfield, with Jonas Hofmann, Lars Stindl and Breel Embolo forming the three-man attack.

Borussia were still without Marcus Thuram (knee), Stefan Lainer (broken ankle), Mamadou Doucouré (Achilles) and Ramy Bensebaini (foot) through injury, and Christoph Kramer also missed out after picking up a thigh injury in training this week.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

11’: A corner is half-cleared as far as Manu Koné, who tries his luck with a powerful shot and isn’t too far away from hitting the target.

12’: Scally lifts the ball to the back post where Netz tries to lift it over the on-rushing Bredlow from a tight angle, but the Stuttgart keeper is able to get a hand to it.

15’: Stuttgart take the lead with their first chance. Mavropanos has time and space to shoot from around 30 yards, and the ball flies past the outstretched Sommer and into the bottom corner. 1-0 to Stuttgart.

19’: Ginter channels his inner Mavropanos and pulls the trigger from distance. His strike isn’t far away from the top-left corner either.

32’: A huge chance for VfB as some miscommunication from Koné and Beyer allows Coulibaly to steal in, only for him to blaze his shot well over with only Sommer to beat.

38’: Ginter lays the ball off for Hofmann to shoot and a deflection off Mavropanos has the ball heading in for an own goal, but Bredlow is able to react in time and make the save.

42’: The equaliser at last! Mavropanos heads away a corner, but only as far as Hofmann on the edge of the box. His control isn’t perfect, but the Germany international unleashes a volley anyway that sails past everyone to level the scores in style. 1-1.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

49’: Hofmann pulls the ball back to Stindl on the edge of the box. The captain’s low shot is straight at Bredlow though.

51’: A first-time effort from Ginter crosses Stindl’s path in the penalty area and so the captain swipes a leg at it to wrongfoot the Stuttgart goalkeeper, but the ball trickles just wide of the post.

55’: Koné makes some space for himself on the edge of the box with some neat footwork. He can’t keep his shot down though.

68’: Plea is fresh off the bench and drives at the defence with his first action. A neat cut inside leaves him with only Bredlow to beat – or at least so it seemed. Mavropanos slides in on the line to stop the shot finding the bottom corner.

77’: It’s another promising position for Plea and he is able to get a powerful shot away, but Bredlow is quick to get down to his right-hand side and smother the ball.

MATCH FACTS

Borussia: Sommer – Beyer, Ginter, Elvedi – Scally (80’ Bennetts), Netz (66’ Herrmann) – Zakaria, Koné (86’ Neuhaus), Hofmann Stindl (66‘ Plea) – Embolo / Unused subs: Sippel, Jantschke, Bénes, Wolf, Müsel

Stuttgart: Bredlow – Mavropanos, Ito, Kempf – Karazor (89’ Didavi), Sosa, Nartey, Endo, Coulibaly (74’ Förster), Führich – Marmoush (74’ Faghir)

Goals: 0-1 Mavropanos (15’), 1-1 Hofmann (42’)

Attendance:  41,608

Yellow cards: Koné, Herrmann, Bennetts – Karazor, Führich, Kempf

Referee: Dr. Felix Brych (Munich)

Manu Koné started once again and put in a shift in midfield
It was a hard-fought match for Matze Ginter & Co.
Jonas Hofmann celebrates after levelling the scores

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