Borussia lose out in Berlin

The Saturday Topspiel on matchday 9 of the Bundesliga saw Borussia Mönchengladbach beaten 1-0 away at Hertha Berlin following Marco Richter’s first-half goal.

The 25,000 fans at the sold-out Olympiastadion witnessed a real scrap between the two sides, with a stream of fouls making it hard for the Foals to build any kind of rhythm. Gladbach had the better chances in the first half, but it was Hertha who led at the break as Marco Richter converted their only real opportunity of the match. The hectic and hard-tackling football continued in the second 45. Borussia managed to work a couple of opportunities, but ultimately fell short of a result in the capital.

TEAM NEWS

Adi Hütter was forced to make a single change to his starting line-up compared to last week’s draw against VfB Stuttgart; the ill Matthias Ginter was replaced at centre-back by the fit-again Ramy Bensebaini. Yann Sommer continued in goal behind a three-man defence of Bensebaini, Nico Elvedi and Jordan Beyer, with Joe Scally and Luca Netz taking up wing-back positions on the right and left respectively. Denis Zakaria paired up with Manu Koné in central midfield once again, behind a front-three of Breel Embolo, Lars Stindl and Jonas Hofmann.

Borussia were without Ginter (cold), Christoph Kramer (thigh), Marcus Thuram (match fitness), Stefan Lainer (broken ankle) and Mamadou Doucouré (Achilles).

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

5’: A second ball following a corner-kick is whipped into the box by Netz and the flick-on from Elvedi drops narrowly wide of the post.

9’: Scally goes down in the box after beating Mittelstädt to a loose ball and the referee points to the penalty spot. However, VAR overrules the decision.

18’: Embolo plays a brilliant one-two with Stindl to get in behind, but his shot has too much power and flies over the target.

38’: Another Elvedi header goes marginally wide, this time following a Hofmann corner.

40’: Hertha take the lead with their first attempt. Richter’s mis-kicked overhead kick following a throw-in bounces into the ground and over Sommer’s head. 1-0 to Hertha.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

49’: Half-time substitute Plea flicks on a Hofmann corner-kick into a dangerous area, but there’s no one on the end of it.

66’: Neuhaus pulls the ball back to the edge of the box where Plea is lurking, only for the Frenchman to slip as he shoots, sending the ball looping harmlessly into the Hertha goalkeeper’s hands.

71’: The ball is in the back of the Berlin net as Plea tucks away a rebound, but Embolo was in an offside position before his shot and the flag goes up.

84’: A long ball from Bensebaini finds Herrmann on the right-hand side of the box. The angle is against Flaco though and his shot can only find the side netting.

MATCH FACTS

Hertha: Schwolow – Pekarik, Boyata, Dardai (80’ Tousart), Plattenhardt – Darida (60’ Maolida), Ascacibar, Serdar (80’ Gechter) – Richter (60’ Ekkelenkamp), Piatek (74’ Selke), Mittelstädt

Borussia: Sommer – Beyer, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Scally, Netz (46’ Neuhaus) – Zakaria, Koné (74’ Herrmann), Hofmann, Stindl (46’ Plea) – Embolo / Unused subs: Sippel, Jantschke, Bénes, Wolf, Noß, Bennetts

Goals: 1-0 Richter (40’)

Attendance: 25,000 (sold out)

Yellow cards: Darida – Beyer, Scally

Referee: Benjamin Cortus (Röthenbach)

Ramy Bensebaini returned to the starting XI in Berlin after almost two months out injured
Referee Benjamin Cortus initially awarded Gladbach a penalty, but reversed his decision after consulting VAR
It was a game characterised by fouls as Borussia struggled to build any rhythm in the capital

23.10.2021