Borussia beat Stuttgart 3-1 to return to winning ways
Borussia Mönchengladbach opened matchday 13 of the Bundesliga with a 3-1 home win over VfB Stuttgart thanks to goals from Jonas Hofmann, Marcus Thuram and Patrick Herrmann.
Around 53,000 spectators were at BORUSSIA-PARK on a chilly Friday night, but the vast majority were quickly warmed up by the Foals’ lightning start. Jonas Hofmann ghosted into the box and met Alassane Plea’s cross with venom to fire Gladbach into the lead just four minutes in. Slick football doubled the home side’s lead after 25 minutes, again with Plea providing a perfect assist with the outside of his boot for Marcus Thuram to take in his stride and slot past the keeper. Stuttgart responded with a goal back from Tiago Tomas to make it 2-1 before the break, and they were the more threatening-looking side for much of the second half. However, Patrick Herrmann came off the bench to wrap up the victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
TEAM NEWS
Daniel Farke made three changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Union last weekend. Manu Koné returned from his yellow-card suspension and Jonas Hofmann was back after recovering from a dislocated shoulder, with Nathan Ngoumou and Lars Stindl dropping to the bench. Tony Jantschke was also handed a start due to Nico Elvedi’s absence through illness. Tobias Sippel continued to deputise in goal behind a back-four of Joe Scally, Marvin Friedrich, Jantschke and Ramy Bensebaini. Julian Weigl and Koné paired up midfield, while lone striker and Bundesliga top scorer Marcus Thuram was supported by Alassane Plea, Chris Kramer and Hofmann.
Apart from Nico Elvedi, Farke was also without Conor Noß (ill), Yann Sommer (ankle), Stefan Lainer (match fitness), Florian Neuhaus, Ko Itakura (both knee) and Hannes Wolf (shoulder).
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
4’: Early opener for the Foals! Plea picks his head up and delivers a perfect cross from the left into the late run of Hofmann, who applies a powerful, first-time finish to beat Müller. 1-0 to Borussia.
10’: A high ball from the right finds Bensebaini’s left boot, but his thunderous volley is blocked well by the goalkeeper.
11’: The first serious chance for Stuttgart when Guirassy’s header from a Sosa cross is almost forced home at the back post by Tomas, but the ball lands on the roof of the net.
15’: Kramer’s excellent cross deceives Stenzel and runs on for Plea to chest down and shoot on goal. Again Müller is able to pull off a very good save, however.
25’: Wonderful football! Quick passing forward from the Foals ends with Plea using the outside of his boot to pick out Thuram on the edge of the box, and his perfect first touch is neatly followed up with a left-footed shot low into the bottom corner. 2-0 to Borussia.
35’: VfB pull one back. Sosa plays the ball to Tomas, who loses his man with a turn and curls the ball inside the far post. 2-1 to Gladbach now.
SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
47’: Koné unleashes a powerful drive from a good 30 yards that Müller is only able to parry, but Stuttgart clear their lines.
70’: Thuram finds space to shoot from a central position, only his effort has more power than precision and clears the target.
78’: Stuttgart break from a loose pass and the counter is worked to Führich in the box. He has space to shoot, but tries to cut back inside and the chasing Foals smother the ball to snuff out the danger.
83’: A massive chance for the away side to level the scores when Guirassy turns Tomas’ low cross goalwards from point-blank range. Sippel positions himself well and brilliantly spreads his body to make the save.
90+4’: It’s all over! Koné plays a pass behind the defence to the fresh legs of Herrmann, who has the pace to beat the defender to the ball and apply a lovely finish across Müller into the far corner. 3-1 to Borussia.
MATCH FACTS
Borussia: Sippel – Scally, Friedrich, Jantschke (80’ Stindl), Bensebaini – Weigl, Koné – Hofmann (90+2’ Herrmann), Kramer, Plea (87’ Netz) – Thuram // Unused subs: Olschowsky, Fraulo, Reitz, Müsel, Borges Sanches, Ngoumou
Stuttgart: Müller – Stenzel (68’ Vagnoman), Mavropanos, Anton, Sosa – Endo, Ahamada (87’ Egloff), Tiago Tomas, Führich (84’ Perea) – Pfeiffer (68’ Silas), Guirassy
Goals: 1-0 Hofmann (4’), 2-0 Thuram (25’), 2-1 Tiago Tomas (35’), 3-1 Herrmann (90+4’)
Attendance: 53,178
Yellow cards: Bensebaini, Thuram – Mavropanos
Referee: Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck
