Borussia round off 2021/22 with big win over Hoffenheim

The final matchday of the Bundesliga campaign saw Borussia Mönchengladbach claim a resounding 5-1 win over TSG Hoffenheim to finish the season in tenth place.

The afternoon began with Matthias Ginter, Keanan Bennetts, equipment manager Rolf Hülswitt and fitness coach Markus Müller being given a send-off in front of the 51,000 fans at BORUSSIA-PARK, but the emotions quickly changed just three minutes in when Andrej Kramaric put Hoffenheim 1-0 ahead. Borussia, who were wearing their new home kit for the first time, delivered a strong response, however. Lars Stindl pounced on a rebound to level the scores in the 25th minute, before Alassane Plea’s penalty (44’) and Jonas Hofmann’s composed finish (45+2’) put the Foals in command on the stroke of half time. Breel Embolo added a fourth soon after the restart (53’), while Hofmann grabbed his second in the 69th minute to wrap up a commanding 5-1 win to end the season.

TEAM NEWS

Adi Hütter made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 in Frankfurt last weekend. Yann Sommer returned between the sticks in place of Tobias Sippel, while Manu Koné came in for the injured Jordan Beyer after serving his one-match suspension.

Borussia were without Beyer (muscular problems), Tony Jantschke (knee surgery) and Nico Elvedi (suspended), but there were returns to the matchday squad for Christoph Kramer, László Bénes and Marcus Thuram.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

3’: The visitors take the lead with their first attack. Skov plays the ball across the face of goal and Kramaric has the easiest of finishes. 1-0 to Hoffenheim.

12’: Borussia get their eye in for the first time as Plea shoots from distance, but can’t quite find the target.

15’: A decent chance for TSG as Raum pulls the ball back to Kramaric on the edge of the box. The Croatian gets his lines wrong this time though.

19’: Stindl’s header on goal following across from Netz is comfortable enough for Baumann.

25’: Equaliser! Plea holds off his man and drives at the defence. His low shot is parried away by Baumann, but Stindl is lurking and sticks the rebound in the net. 1-1.

44’: Turnaround complete! Vogt takes too long on the ball in the box and Embolo nicks it off him before being fouled. Plea sends Baumann the wrong way with the penalty. 2-1 to Borussia.

45+2’: Another one! The Foals double their lead before the break through Hofmann, who rounds Baumann and finishes after being played in behind by Neuhaus. 3-1 to Borussia.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

51’: Neuhaus has a bit of space and tries his luck from around 30 yards, but Baumann is equal to his shot.

53’: The Foals pick up where they left off in the first half. Hofmann’s through ball is perfect for Embolo, who finishes the attack with a clinical chip over the keeper. 4-1 to Borussia.

56’: Embolo works his way past a number of blue shirts in the Hoffenheim box, but is denied a second by Baumann. The resulting corner is headed just over the top by Friedrich.

58’: Another good chance as Embolo lays the ball off for Stindl, who chooses power over accuracy. Over.

69’: It’s five! Akpoguma can only flick a long ball onto the run of Hofmann, who squeezes his shot past Baumann at the near post. 5-1 to Borussia.

76’: Plea’s cross in the centre falls for Herrmann, who tries to volley a shot in on the turn, but the fall zips narrowly wide.

82’: Almost a second for TSG, but Proschwitz’s header is inches wide of the post.

MATCH FACTS

Borussia: Sommer –Lainer (74’ Scally), Friedrich (80’ Ginter), Bensebaini, Netz – Koné, Neuhaus– Hofmann (80’ Kramer), Stindl (74’ Herrmann), Plea – Embolo (63’ Thuram) // Unused subs: Sippel, Bénes, Bennetts

Hoffenheim: Baumann – Akpoguma (86’ Bicakcic, Vogt, Posch, Raum – Samassekou (64’ Rudy), Baumgartner, Stiller (86’ Tohumcu), Kramaric – Skov (64’ Proschwitz), Bruun Larsen (64’ Che)

Goals: 0-1 Kramaric (3’), 1-1 Stindl (25’), 2-1 Plea (44’, pen.), 3-1 Hofmann (45+2’), 4-1 Embolo (53’), 5-1 Hofmann (69’)

Attendance: 51,000  

Yellow cards: Stindl – Samassekou, Vogt

Referee: Harm Osmers (Hannover)

Yann Sommer returned to the starting XI for the final game of the season
Lars Stindl dedicated his goal to departing equipment manager Rolf Hülswitt
Breel Embolo and Jonas Hofmann celebrate together after going 3-1 up

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