Ten-man Borussia beat Leipzig 3-1

Matchday 32 in the Bundesliga saw Borussia Mönchengladbach claim a 3-1 win over RB Leipzig. The Foals led 2-1 at the break thanks to goals from Breel Embolo and Jonas Hofmann, even going on to add a third through Hofmann again in spite of Nico Elvedi’s red card.

Around 35,000 fans were at BORUSSIA-PARK for the unusual Monday night kick-off and saw Gladbach take a 1-0 lead through Embolo with their first real chance of the game (17’). RBL equalised somewhat against the run of play ten minutes before the interval when Christopher Nkunku got in behind, but Jonas Hofmann restored Borussia’s advantage with a clinical finish on the stroke of half time. Leipzig asserted themselves more in the second half and Nico Elvedi’s professional foul on Nkunku saw the Foals reduced to ten men with around 25 minutes to play. The visitors applied more pressure, but Gladbach held firm and Hofmann even finished off a counterattack to secure a 3-1 win in the 77th minute.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Adi Hütter made just one change to the side that drew 3-3 with RB Leipzig, with Lars Stindl coming in for Alassane Plea. Yann Sommer was in goal behind a back-three of Jordan Beyer, Nico Elvedi and Ramy Bensebaini, while Stefan Lainer and Luca Netz took up wing-back positions. Manu Koné and Florian Neuhaus partnered in up behind, with Stindl, Breel Embolo and Jonas Hofmann forming a three-man attack.

The Foals were only without Marcus Thuram (adductor) and László Bénes (muscular problems).

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

12’: A first opening for Borussia as Lainer tries his luck from around 20 yards, although it’s not got enough firepower behind it to trouble Gulácsi.

17’: Borussia take the lead! Stindl is trying to play a ball through the middle, but Laimer inadvertently redirects it perfectly into the path of Embolo, who thunders a shot past the goalkeeper. 1-0 to Gladbach.

26’: Koné’s long-range low shot is gathered comfortably by Gulácsi.

36’: RBL equalise. Silva is able to hold the ball up on a breakaway and sends Nkunku in behind. His shot takes a nick off Bensebaini and nestles in the back of the net. 1-1. 

45+2’: Back in front! Embolo traps the ball on the halfway line and waits for Hofmann to make his run. The through ball between the last defenders is timed perfectly and Hoffi keeps his cool to slot his shot past Gulácsi. 2-1 to Gladbach.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

55’: Angelino’s cross to the back post is met by the rising Silva. His header is set to sneak under the bar, but Sommer gets fingertips to it in time to push it onto the woodwork and over.

61’: Some quick interplay around the edge of the box leads to a left-footed shot from Stindl that has power but not enough precision to cause Gulácsi a real issue.

64’: Red card for Borussia. Elvedi slides and brings down Nkunku as the last man just outside the box. The Frenchman was away and so referee Petersen sends the Gladbach defender off.

77’: A crucial third! Beyer picks out Hofmann in the box and the Germany international takes the ball in his stride before quickly tucking a shot into the bottom corner. 3-1 to Gladbach.

84’: Two fine saves from Sommer in quick succession, first parrying Olmo’s long-range shot and then getting across to Angelino’s laser effort and pushing it away from the top corner.

MATCH FACTS

Borussia: Sommer – Beyer, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Lainer, Netz (90+3’ Scally) – Koné (89’ Kramer), Neuhaus – Hofmann, Stindl (66’ Friedrich), Embolo (89’ Plea) // Unused subs: Sippel, Ginter, Jantschke, Noß, Herrmann

Leipzig: Gulácsi – Gvardiol (33’ Halstenberg), Orban, Simakan (46’ Klostermann) – Angelino, Mukiele (80’ Forsberg) – Kampl, Laimer (80‘ Szoboszlai) – Olmo, Nkunku, Silva (65’ Poulsen)

Goals: 1-0 Embolo (17’), 1-1 Nkunku (36’), 2-1 Hofmann (45+2’), 3-1 Hofmann (77’)

Attendance: 35,324

Yellow cards: Stindl, Koné, Neuhaus, Hofmann – Gvardiol, Simakan

Red cards: Elvedi (64’)

Referee: Martin Petersen (Stuttgart)

Lars Stindl came back into the starting XI and grabbed the assist for Embolo's opener
Breel Embolo has now scored four goals in his last five games
Jonas Hofmann ended his two-and-a-half month wait for a goal by scoring twice

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