Matchday 25 in the Bundesliga ended in a 3-2 defeat to VfB Stuttgart. Goals from Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram had the Foals leading 2-0, but they were unable to bring home any points.
25,000 fans at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena saw the hosts make the better start, but it was Borussia who got the first goal after 14 minutes, with Alassane Plea finishing off a delightful one-two with Florian Neuhaus. Marcus Thuram then got on the end of Plea’s inch-perfect cross to make it 2-0 (35’). However, Wataru Endo’s deflected shot (39’) reduced the deficit before half time and the lead was wiped out six minutes after the restart through Chris Führich’s header. Stuttgart pushed for a winner until the end and the Foals were unable to withstand the pressure, with Sasa Kalajdzic grabbing an 83rd-minute winner.
TEAM NEWS
Adi Hütter made two changes to the side that dew 2-2 with Wolfsburg last week, as Jordan Beyer and Stefan Lainer were replaced by Joe Scally and Manu Koné. Yann Sommer was captain between the sticks, with a back-four of Scally, Matthias Ginter, Nico Elvedi and Ramy Bensebaini in front of him. Christoph Kramer and Manu Koné paired up in central midfield. Marcus Thuram led the line, supported by the trio of Jonas Hofmann, Florian Neuhaus and Alassane Plea.
The Foals were without Beyer (yellow-card suspension), Lainer, Marvin Friedrich (both illness), Tony Jantschke (knee), Lars Stindl (knee) and Mamadou Doucouré (muscle problems).
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
9’: A first warning shot from VfB as Führich forces a good hold from Yann Sommer.
11’: Ito’s long ball finds Sosa. He looks to pick out the far corner from a tight angle, but pulls his shot wide.
12’: Stunning reactions from Sommer. Tiago Tomas’ shot from 18 yards is goal-bound, but the Swiss goalkeeper quickly dives to his right and gets enough of his hand to the ball to tip it wide.
14’: Borussia take the lead with their first chance. Plea beats his man and lays off to Neuhaus. The Germany international flicks the ball first time over the defence onto Plea, who had continued his run, and he applies a finish on the volley to beat Müller. 1-0 to Borussia.
24’: Another good Stuttgart chance. Sosa’s cross finds Kalajdzic at the far post, but his header down falls the wrong side of the upright.
35’: Gladbach extend their lead with a brilliant attack. Hofmann sends Plea into space down the left flank. He whips a low cross towards the six-yard box, where Thuram meets it on the stretch and beats Müller. 2-0 to Gladbach.
39’: VfB respond quickly. Bensebaini’s miscued clearance drops perfectly for Endo, whose shot is deflected off Elvedi on its way into the back of the net. 2-1 to Gladbach.
SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
51’: Stuttgart equalise. Ginter can only clear Tiago Tomas’ cross as far as Kalajdzic, who doesn’t hesitate to shoot, and a deflection off Bensebaini sets up Führich perfectly at the far post to head in. 2-2.
66’: World-class from Sommer once more! A long pump into the box is headed down by Kalajdzic to the unmarked Tiago Tomas, whose shot from close range is somehow parried away by the Borussia number one.
71’: A rare threat from Borussia as Bensebaini finds Neuhaus in the box, but he can’t beat Müller from a narrow angle.
74’: Neuhaus’ header back to Sommer is short, allowing Marmoush to get to the ball first, but Ginter and Neuhaus just about manage to snuff out the danger between them.
83’: Stuttgart complete the turnaround. Sosa’s pull-back from the byline finds Kalajdzic in space in the box. His takes a touch and then tucks the ball into the far corner. 3-2 to Stuttgart.
89’: Marmoush thinks he’s wrapped it up on the counter after finishing low past Sommer, but the flag goes up for offside.
MATCH FACTS
Stuttgart: Müller – Mavropanos, Anton, Ito, Sosa – Endo, Karazor, Marmoush (89’ Coulibaly), Tiago Tomas (90+4’ Egloff), Führich (90’ Förster) – Kalajdzic
Borussia: Sommer – Scally, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini –Kramer, Koné (72’ Embolo) – Hofmann, Neuhaus, Plea (84’ Netz) – Thuram // Unused subs: Sippel, Gaal, Bénes, Herrmann, Noß, Bennetts
Goals: 0-1 Plea (14’), 0-2 Thuram (35’), 1-2 Endo (39’), 2-2 Führich (51’), 3-2 Kalajdzic (83’)
Attendance: 25,000 (sold-out)
Yellow cards: Anton – Bensebaini (fifth), Scally
Referee: Christian Dingert (Gries)
