First Bundesliga home game ends level

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s first Bundesliga home game of the season ended in a 1-1 draw against Union Berlin, with Marcus Thuram’s opener cancelled out late on.

Around 10,000 spectators were allowed inside BORUSSIA-PARK for the first time March, and the vocal fans helped the Foals to a couple of good chances in the first half against Union. However, visiting goalkeeper Andreas Luthe was in good form too. He made two strong saves to deny Alassane Plea, first after a mazy run and shot, soon followed by a header from a corner. The side from the capital were quiet going forward for most of the half, although Becker did rattle Yann Sommer’s crossbar.

Gladbach started the second 45 again on the front foot, but had sights of goal blocked away at the last. Matthias Ginter then tested Luthe once again in the 55th minute with a shot from the edge of the box, which the FCU goalkeeper managed to hold on to. Less than a minute later though, he was finally picking the ball out of his net. A corner from Jonas Hofmann was met by the head of Marcus Thuram, and a slight deflection helped Borussia take a 1-0 lead. Instead of kicking on from the goal, the momentum was soon with Union Berlin. Their more adventurous approach resulted in an 80th-minute equaliser, with Nico Schlotterbeck replicated Thuram by heading in a corner kick. The Foals pushed for a late winner and almost found it when the ball ran through to Ramy Bensebaini six yards out, but for the full back couldn’t keep his effort down.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Marco Rose made two changes to the side that started in Dortmund, with Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea returning to fitness to start ahead of Oscar Wendt and Hannes Wolf. However, he was still without Denis Zakaria (fitness), Breel Embolo (ankle), Valentino Lazaro (calf), László Bénes (ankle), Andreas Poulsen (shoulder) and Julio Villalba (muscular problems). Jordan Beyer also missed the game following his positive coronavirus test.

MATCH FACTS

Borussia: Sommer - Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Kramer, Neuhaus (85’ Herrmann), Hofmann, Stindl – Thuram (70’ Wendt), Plea (75’ Wolf)

Union: Luthe – Friedrich, Knoche, N. Schlotterbeck – Trimmel (74’ Ryerson), Andrich, Prömel (88’ Griesbeck), Lenz, Becker (58’ Ingvartsen), Bülter (74’ Teuchert) – Awoniyi (58’ Kruse)

Goals: 1-0 Thuram (56’), 1-1 Schlotterbeck (80’)

Yellow cards: Bensebaini – Trimmel, Andrich

Referee: Tobias Stieler (Hamburg)

Attendance: 10,383