Borussia beaten by Köln in the derby

Matchday 30 in the Bundesliga ended in a 3-1 home derby defeat for Borussia Mönchengladbach against 1. FC Köln, with Breel Embolo’s late goal only a consolation.

A sold-out BORUSSIA-PARK saw the Foals caught cold early on, with Anthony Modeste firing the visitors 1-0 ahead inside just five minutes. Köln looked more incisive going forward and added goals two and three before half time through Florian Kainz (20’) and Dejan Ljubicic (34’). Gladbach looked for a way back into the game after the break, but Breel Embolo’s goal after 85 minutes came too late to launch a fightback.

TEAM NEWS

Adi Hütter made two changes to the side that won in Fürth, with the injured Marcus Thuram replaced by Jonas Hofmann, and the fit again Ramy Bensebaini forcing Joe Scally onto the bench. Yann Sommer was in goal behind a back-three of Matthias Ginter, Jordan Beyer and Nico Elvedi, with Stefan Lainer and Ramy Bensebaini taking up wing-back positions. Manu Koné and Florian Neuhaus started in the middle, while Jonas Hofmann, Alassane Plea and Breel Embolo led the attack.

Borussia were only without Marcus Thuram (hamstring) and Marvin Friedrich (fitness) for the game on Saturday night.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

5’: Köln take the lead with their first attack. Uth’s ball sends Kainz down the left flank and his ball into the box is fired home first-time by Modeste. 1-0 to Köln.

7’: Borussia’s first chance. Embolo pulls the ball back from the byline to Plea, but his shot is blocked by Ehizibue.

15’: Plea lays the ball off on the edge of the box for Embolo to shoot, but he can’t get enough power behind his effort to make it a difficult save for Schwäbe.

20’: Another one for Köln. The ball is worked to Uth in the box and he spots Kainz in space who only has to hit the target. 2-0 to Köln.

28’: A big chance to get back in the game. Embolo puts Hofmann through, but he’s stretching into his dinked shot over Schwäbe and the ball trickles wide of the target.

34’: Clinical again from the visitors. Köln break and Uth feeds Ljubicic who drills a low shot past Sommer. 3-0 to Köln.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

49’: The first half-opening of the second 45, but both Koné and Netz’s shots are closed down.

60’: Almost a goal back. Embolo beats two men and plays through to Hofmann, who can’t quite find the bottom corner with his left-footed shot.

67’: Özcan’s cross is volleyed at goal by Modeste, but Sommer is behind it and holds on.

85’: Borussia get one back. A long ball from Hofmann finds the run of Embolo and he holds off his man and finishes past Schwäbe. 3-1 to Köln.

90+4’: Substitute Lemperle is in one-on-one with Sommer, but he can’t find a way past the Borussia keeper.

MATCH FACTS

Borussia: Sommer – Ginter (39’ Scally), Beyer, Elvedi – Lainer (46’ Netz), Bensebaini – Koné (71’ Bénes/75’ Stindl), Neuhaus (46‘ Kramer) – Hofmann, Plea – Embolo // Unused subs: Sippel, Jantschke, Herrmann, Noß

1. FC Köln: Schwäbe – Ehizibue (80’ Schmitz), Kilian, Hübers, Hector – Skhiri, Özcan, Ljubicic (80’ Schaub), Uth (80’ Duda), Kainz (61’ Thielmann) – Modeste (90+2’ Lemperle)

Goals: 0-1 Modeste (5’), 0-2 Kainz (20’), 0-3 Ljubicic (34’), 1-3 Embolo (85’)

Attendance: 54,042 (sold-out)

Yellow cards: Koné, Plea, Elvedi – Hector, Hübers

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)