First set of dates for pre-season confirmed
After a summer break of seven weeks, the Foals will kick off their preparations for the 2024/25 season in the second week of July. The first set of dates for the new season have now been confirmed.
Borussia fight back to earn 2-2 draw
Borussia came back from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw against VfL Wolfsburg on matchday 24 in the Bundesliga.
The Foals enjoyed nearly 65% possession in the first half, as 10,000 fans cheered them on from inside BORUSSIA-PARK, but it was Wolfsburg who were able to find the back of the net first. Jonas Wind opened the scoring with their first shot on goal (6’), before Sebastiaan Bornauw doubled their lead in the 33rd minute. Marcus Thuram got one back for Borussia just before the break (42’). After the change of ends, Borussia continued to press hard in search for another goal but were unable to break through the opposing defence. In the 70th minute, Wolfsburg’s Maxence Lacroix was shown a straight red after deliberately handling the ball as the last man back, meaning Borussia were a man up for the closing stages of the game. Breel Embolo then equalised for the Foals, just minutes after having come off the bench (82’). Matthias Ginter then found the back of the net late on, but had his goal ruled off after VAR intervened. In the end, the Foals’ spirited comeback was rewarded with a point at home.
TEAM NEWS
Head coach Adi Hütter made three changes to the starting XI following last weekend’s match in Dortmund (6-0 loss). Jordan Beyer, Christoph Kramer and Marcus Thuram replaced Marvin Friedrich, Manu Koné and Breel Embolo.
Yann Sommer started in goal, behind a back three of Matthias Ginter, Nico Elvedi and Beyer. Stefan Lainer and Ramy Bensebaini slotted in at wing-back, with Kramer and Florian Neuhaus forming the heart of our midfield. Up front were the trio of Jonas Hofmann, Alassane Plea and Thuram.
Borussia were without Friedrich (flu), Tony Jantschke (knee), captain Lars Stindl (knee) and Mamadou Doucouré (muscle problems) against Wolfsburg.
FIRST-HALF HIGHTLIGHTS
1’: The first chance falls to Borussia after just 35 seconds. Plea finds Thuram down the win, but his shot sails into the arms of Casteels.
6’: Wolfsburg open the scoring with their first shot of the match. Baku’s cross finds Wind, as he’s able to head home from close range.
10’: Jonas Hofmann’s cross flies deep into the box, but Casteels is alert and able to parry it out for a corner.
17’: Thuram and Hofmann combine for a quick one-two, but the latter’s shot from a tight angle is saved.
18’: Wolfsburg have a good chance down the other end, as Wind breaks through following a pass from Bornauw, but his shot misses the target.
33’: Wolfsburg double their lead. Philipp’s corner finds Bornauw inside the box and he nods home from four metres out.
42’: Thuram gets one back for Borussia! He rises highest inside the box and heads in Plea’s cross.
45’: The visitors miss a chance to restore their two-goal advantage as Philipp volleys it over the bar from close range.
SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
63’: Hofmann finds Ginter, but his shot from the edge of the box is kept out by a spectacular diving save from Casteels.
68’: Bensebaini lets loose a long-range shot but it lands right in Casteels’ arms.
70’: Thuram is through on goal against Lacroix, who deliberately handles the ball as the last man back. VAR intervenes and the defender is shown a straight red card.
73’: The ball ends up with Stevie Lainer, but his shot flies wide of the target.
77’: A trio of chances for the Foals! First, Koné has a shot blocked by Casteels, as the goalkeeper then makes another save on Ginter’s rebound. Thuram then skies it from close range.
80’: Plea finds the recently substituted Embolo down the wing, but the Swiss striker is unable to get past Casteels.
82’: There’s the equaliser! Plea’s cross finds Embolo at the far post, as he heads in to make it 2-2.
90’: Heartbreak for the Foals, as Ginter’s goal is ruled out after VAR identifies a foul in the build-up from Herrmann.
90’+4: Another great chance for Embolo, but Casteels pulls another save out of the top drawer to push his shot over the bar.
MATCH FACTS:
Borussia: Sommer – Ginter, Elvedi, Beyer – Lainer (81’ Herrmann), Bensebaini – Kramer, Neuhaus (60’ Koné) – Hofmann, Plea – Thuram (77’ Embolo) // Bench: Sippel (goalkeeper), Scally, Netz, Bénes, Noß, Bennetts
Wolfsburg: Casteels – Lacroix, Bornauw, Brooks – Baku (58’ Mbabu), Arnold, Vranckx (58’ Schlager), Roussillon, Philipp (46’ Gerhardt), Kruse (78’ Steffen) – Wind
Goals: 0-1 Wind (6’), 0-2 Bornauw (33’), 1-2 Thuram (42’), 2-2 Embolo (82’)
Attendance: 10,000 (sold-out)
Yellow cards: Sommer, Beyer – Philipp, Baku, Casteels
Red cards: Lacroix (70’, hand ball)
Referee: Tobias Reichel (Stuttgart)
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