The Foals suffered a 3-2 defeat to third-tier Viktoria Köln in a friendly match. Several youth academy players featured for Gladbach during the match.
Borussia began the game on top on at the Parkstadion and took an early lead. Some good individual play allowed László Bénes a shot on goal from distance and he scored to make it 1-0. The guests then equalised against the run of play around 15 minutes later (21’). Following this, the Foals regained control of the match and created some good chances which unfortunately went begging. After the break, the game was much more of an even contest. Seokju Hong gave the guests the lead in the 58tht minute before Alassane Plea equalised for the Foals just four minutes later (62’). As the game reached the final stages, and several of Borussia’s youth players were given some game time, Viktoria Köln took the lead late on through Patrick Sontheimer (83’).
LINE-UP
In front of goalkeeper Tobias Sippel played a back three of Michael Wentzel, Michel Lieder and Merlin Schlosser, all of whom are from Borussia’s reserves. Conor Noß and Lázsló Bénes lined up in defensive midfield for Gladbach, with Patrick Herrmann, chosen to lead the team out as captain, and Hannes Wolf started on the wings. The attack was made up of Alassane Plea, Torben Müsel and Marcus Thuram. In the 65th minute Christian Peintinger, who was in charge of the team and stood on the touchline for the Foals, changed the entire team apart from keeper Sippel. Luiz Skraback, Moustafa Moustafa, Sander Christiansen, Jacob Italiano, Per Lockl, Noah Andreas, Kushtrim Asallari, Phil Beckhoff, Luca Barata and Mika Schroers were given some game time.
SQUAD
The starting XI was made up of first-team players who either partially or did not feature against FC Bayern, and the rest of the places were filled by reserve or U19s players. Jonas Hofmann (in recovery after his knee operation), Ramy Bensebaini (currently taking part in AFCON), Joe Scally, Denis Zakaria, Keanen Bennetts and Mamadou Doucouré (all working to regain match fitness after testing positive for Coronavirus) were unavailable for this match.
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
4’: The Foals take an early lead as Bénes’ powerful effort flies in for 1-0.
20’: Plea is played through after brilliant play from Müsel and Bénes but his shot from a tight angle is saved by Viktoria Köln’s keeper and Borussia loanee Moritz Nicolas.
21’: Equaliser for the visitors. A cross from the right flank reaches the far posts and finds Hong who heads the ball into the far corner for 1-1.
32’: Herrmann puts in a measured cross from the right towards Plea who volleys towards goal. Nicolas reacts sharply and manages to bury the ball underneath him.
38’: Wolf plays it back to Plea in the box and the Frenchman lets fly and shoots just over the bar.
41’: Bénes crosses the free-kick into the box and finds Lieder, who heads just wide of Viktoria Köln’s goal.
SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
49’: Amyn has a shot from the centre of the box, but Sippel is able to get fingertips on it and send the ball over the bar.
53’: Played through by Sontheimer from the left-hand side, Philipp has an opportunity to shoot from the centre of the penalty box, but his effort goes wide of Sippel’s goal.
58’: Handle picks out Hong from the right flank, and he shoots with his left into the far corner for 2-1.
62’: Bénes’ free kick strikes the bar, but Plea is there on the rebound to make it 2-2.
83’: Palacios puts Sontheimer through on goal and he converts from close range to make it 3-2 to Viktoria Köln.
MATCH FACTS
Borussia: Sippel – Wentzel (65' Skraback), Lieder (65' Moustafa), Schlosser (65' Christiansen) – Herrmann (65' Italiano), Noß (65' Lockl), Bénes (65' Andreas), Wolf (65' Asallari) – Plea (65' Beckhoff), Müsel (65' Barata), Thuram (65' Schroers)
Viktoria Köln: Nicolas – Koronkiewicz (46' May), Rossmann (75' Altuntas), Greger, Buballa (46' Sontheimer) – Handle (75' Schirmer), Lorch (46' Palacios), Klefisch (75' Hompesch), Amyn (75' Hemcke) – Hong (75' Jashari), Jastremski (46' Philipp)
Goals: 1-0 Bénes (4'), 1-1 Hong (21'), 1-2 Hong (58'), 2-2 Plea (62'), 2-3 Sontheimer (83')
Attendance: 0
Referee: Dr. Robin Braun
Photos: van der Velden
