Borussia end season with 2-0 victory over Augsburg

Borussia completed the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign with a 2-0 home win over FC Augsburg in what was an appropriate farewell for departing captain Lars Stindl.

Almost 52,200 supporters made their way through the turnstiles of the sold-out BORUSSIA-PARK to watch the Foals’ final league match. Before kick-off, we said farewell to Ramy Bensebaini, Marcus Thuram and Lars Stindl with a short presentation. Gladbach got right down to business after the first whistle, with Luca Netz scoring the opener in the third minute. Borussia continued to get forward and created several good chances. Jonas Hofmann converted one of these to make it 2-0 (40’) before Augsburg defender Robert Gumny was sent off after fouling Marcus Thuram as the last man. The second half had less tempo to it, but Borussia controlled large stretches of it. Lars Stindl was substituted shortly before full time to rapturous applause from the fans, and the win saw Borussia climb to tenth place in the final standings.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Daniel Farke made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 in Leverkusen last Sunday – Jonas Omlin, Ramy Bensebaini, Florian Neuhaus and Lars Stindl came in for Jan Olchowsky, Marvin Friedrich, Manu Koné and Christoph Kramer. There was a three-man defence comprising of Ko Itakura, Nico Elvedi and Ramy Bensebaini in front of Omlin, with Stefan Lainer and Luca Netz starting on the wings. Julian Weigl, Florian Neuhaus, Jonas Hofmann and Lars Stindl made up the midfield in behind striker Marcus Thuram. 

SQUAD NEWS

Mau Koné and Christoph Kramer, who were both struggling with a muscular issue in their thigh, were sidelined for the final game of the season. 

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

3’: Some smart play gives Borussia the lead! Thuram lays it to Hofmann on the right flank, who spots Netz in a better position and squares it to the wing-back, who taps it in from close range for 1-0! 

5’: The Foals get their next opportunity. Neuhaus has a go from the edge of the area, but it goes straight into Augsburg goalkeeper Koubek’s arms. 

16’: Netz is in lots of space on the left-hand side and plays it to Thuram in the box, who shoots first time and narrowly misses the target. 

19’: The skipper almost scores! Stindl misses by a whisker after being played in by Hofmann. 

24’: Augsburg have their first attempt of the match, but Engels' long-range effort is easy pickings for Omlin. 

40’: A lovely move for 2-0! After playing a nice one-two with Stindl, Hofmann slots the ball into the bottom corner! 

45’: Red card for Augsburg! Gumny brings Thuram down just outside the box and is given his marching orders. Stindl steps up to take the resulting free kick and thrashes it towards goal, but Koubek’s wrists are strong enough to keep out the effort. 

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

64’: Hofmann whips in a cross from the right, and Thuram is inches away from getting on the end of it. 

78’: Augsburg cross it in from a free kick, and their resulting header is caught by Omlin, who then launches a throw to find Hofmann, whose subsequent effort from 50 yards out goes wide. 

81’: Stindl misses another chance for a farewell goal. Hofmann plays him through, but the captain fires over from 12 yards. 

86’: The captain exits the field! Stindl’s number comes up and his name is chanted in the minutes which follow the skipper’s depature from proceedings.  

STATISTIK

Borussia: Omlin – Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Lainer (90' Jantschke), Netz (70' Wolf) – Weigl, Neuhaus (90' Friedrich) – Hofmann, Stindl (86' Stindl), Thuram (70' Plea) // Bench: Olschowsky, Scally, Fraulo, Ngoumou

FC Augsburg: Koubek – Gumny, Gouweleeuw, Renato Veiga – Engels (82' Colina), Dorsch, Rexhbecaj (46' Bauer), Pedersen – Maier, (58' Yeboah) Demirovic – Beljo (46' Vargas) // Bench: Klein, Caligiuri, Kömür, Sarenren Bazee, Mbuku

Goals: 1-0 Netz (3'), 2-0 Hofmann (40')

Attendance: 52,186

Yellow cards: Pedersen

Red cards: Gumny (45')

Referee: Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck