Borussia held to 0-0 draw by SC Freiburg

Matchday 23 in the Bundesliga saw Borussia Mönchengladbach play out a 0-0 draw against SC Freiburg. The Foals ended the game with ten men after Ramy Bensebaini was sent off late on.

Around 53,000 fans at BORUSSIA-PARK saw a first half in which Gladbach were the better side, but were unable to take advantage of chances for Alassane Plea and Ramy Bensebaini. Daniel Farke’s side were looking solid defensively too, and that resilience continued early in the second half as Freiburg had their most threatening phase. Borussia retook command in the final half hour, but lacked the incisiveness that was needed in the attacking third to break the deadlock. Frustrations boiled over towards the end and Bensebaini was shown two yellow cards in quick succession, but the Foals were able to see out the result a man down.

TEAM NEWS

There were three changes to the team that started in Mainz last weekend, as Tobias Sippel, Joe Scally and Marcus Thuram got the nod to replace the injured Jonas Omlin, Stefan Lainer and Hannes Wolf.

Apart from goalkeeper Omlin (thigh strain), Farke was also without Julian Weigl (ankle), Tony Jantschke (knee) and Jan Olschowsky (stomach flu).

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

4’: The visitors are first to test one of the goalkeepers, but Sippel is more than a match for Sallai’s low shot.

8’: Thuram finds a gap to shoot through, aiming for the far corner. Flekken is quick to get down low and parries the ball away, however.

18’: A huge chance to open the scoring. Thuram lays off to Plea who only has Flekken to beat, but the Freiburg keeper makes himself big and blocks the shot.

36’: Bensebaini rises highest from Hofmann’s corner and his header is bound for the back of the net until Höler gets back and clears the ball off the line.

42’: Elvedi heads Hofmann’s free-kick towards the far corner. His effort is lacking firepower though and Flekken can gather comfortably.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

49’: Sippel makes a great save to keep the Foals in front. Sallai’s powerful shot across goal is heading for the top corner, before the Borussia goalie palms it away at full stretch.

64’: Nice combination football from Borussia ends with a shot from Plea that is only a couple of feet wide of the post.

65’: Thuram goes down in the box under the challenge of Höfler and the referee points to the penalty spot. However, he reverses his decision after a VAR review.

74’: A great run down the left from Thuram causes a bit of disorganisation in the SC defence. His square ball into the centre finds the unmarked Plea, but he scuffs his shot somewhat and the ball flies over.

87’: Bensebaini kicks the ball away after a foul is given against Borussia and is shown yellow card. He then applauds the ref’s decision and is booked again, followed by a red.

89’: A dangerous ball across the box is destined to be tucked home by Röhl at the back post, before a brilliant touch from Plea deflects the ball away from him.

MATCH FACTS

Borussia: Sippel – Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Kramer, Koné – Hofmann, Stindl (70’ Neuhaus), Plea (90’ Netz) – Thuram // Unused subs: Dimmer, Friedrich, Lainer, Herrmann, Wolf, Fraulo, Ngoumou

Freiburg: Flekken – Kübler (84’ Gulde), Ginter, Lienhart – Sildillia, Günter, M. Eggestein (78’ Röhl), Höfler, Sallai (78’ Doan), Grifo (84’ Keitel) – Höler (90’ Petersen)

Goals: -

Attendance: 53,014

Yellow cards: Stindl, Elvedi, Thuram, Farke, Bensebaini – Lienhart

Red cards: Bensebaini (87’)

Referee: Benjamin Brand