Borussia battle to a draw in Frankfurt

Borussia Mönchengladbach played out a 1-1 draw away at Eintracht Frankfurt in matchday 29’s Topspiel in the Bundesliga on Saturday night. Jonas Hofmann put the Foals ahead after just 13 minutes, but Randal Kolo Muani levelled the scores in the closing stages, despite some heroics from Jonas Omlin.

Gladbach looked to calmly build from the back in the opening stages at the Deutsche Bank Park. A solid defensive base allowed them to deal with the dangerous Frankfurt frontline, and they soon began creating chances. Florian Neuhaus fired over from distance after nine minutes, but the ball was in the back of the net just four minutes later: Marcus Thuram unselfishly laid off for Hofmann to apply a simple finish and make it 1-0. With the lead behind them, Daniel Farke’s side sat a little deeper now and allowed Frankfurt to control possession. Kolo Muani came closest to levelling the scores late on in the first half, but Borussia held out.

The Eagles continued to dictate proceedings in the second half, as Borussia eyed up chances on the counter. Neuhaus could have doubled the Foals’ lead too following a breakaway, if not for a last-ditch challenge. Eintracht steadily increased the pressure at the game wore on, often being left frustrated by a couple of brilliant saves from Omlin. Their dominance finally did take its toll in the 83rd minute though, with Kolo Muani the man to break Gladbach hearts and ensure a 1-1 draw.

TEAM NEWS

There were three changes to Farke’s side from the 2-0 home win over VfL Wolfsburg. Julian Weigl returned to the starting line-up for the first time since his injury. The same applied to Jonas Hofmann, who already came on as a substitute last week. Manu Koné also came back into the side after serving his yellow-card suspension. That meant Christoph Kramer, Lars Stindl and Nathan Ngoumou dropped to the bench.

Apart from Yvandro Borges Sanches, who is sidelined with an ankle problem, everyone was available for the trip to Frankfurt.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

9’:First chance for the Foals. A quickly taken free-kick in our own half sees Thuram break away towards the opposition box. He spots Neuhaus in space 18 yards out, but the ball bobbles from his first touch and the resulting shot flies over the top.

13’: The opener! Neuhaus brilliantly plays in Thuram, who uses his pace to get away from Jakic. He only has the keeper to beat, but Hofmann is supporting him and it’s an easy finish into the empty net for today’s captain Hoffi. 1-0 to Gladbach.

23’: Omlin is called into action for the first time, and he has to be at his best straightaway. A powerful shot from Sow takes a slight nick off Itakura, sending it towards the top corner. Jonas quickly flings himself across goal and gets a strong palm to the ball to push it behind.

41’: Bensebaini’s header away from a Frankfurt corner only goes as far as Rode, who tries his luck with a volley that is never troubling the Gladbach goal.

44’: Big chance for the home side. Borré beats his man and plays a through ball into the run of Buta. His pass across the face of goal finds Kolo Muani, who doesn’t connect cleanly with a shot from six yards and Omlin is able to smother the ball.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

52’: A good counter from the Foals sees Plea slip in Hofmann with a precise pass. He holds up the ball on the edge of the box before laying off for Neuhaus to shoot, however, our number 32’s effort is blocked away by a well-timed Lenz slide tackle.

60’: Kolo Muani keeps a loose ball alive in the box with a back-heel flick that forces Bensebaini to try and clear before Aaronson can make contact. The ball loops towards his own goal with Omlin scrambling back, but it safely lands on the roof of the net.

65’: Omlin denies Frankfurt again. Ebimbe fires a powerful strike at goal from a good 25 yards and the Swiss goalkeeper is able to tip the ball over the crossbar. Kolo Muani’s acrobatic volley from the resulting corner fails to find the target.

75’: Buta delivers a low cross into the middle and Kolo Muani’s first-time shot hits the base of the far post. The ball comes straight back to Ebimbe ten yards out, but Omlin makes himself big to block the rebound with his right hand.

83’: The equaliser. It had been coming. There’s nothing Omlin can do this time as Kolo Muani has a little too much space to shoot following Alidou’s cross, and he is able to drill the ball into the bottom corner. 1-1.

MATCH FACTS

Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta, Hasebe, Jakic (17’ Knauff, 77’ Alidou) – Buta, Rode (56’ Ebimbe), Sow, Lenz – Borré (56’ Aaronson), Kamada (76’ Alario) – Kolo Muani

Borussia: Omlin – Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini (90+1’ Netz)­ – Weigl, Koné – Hofmann (90+1’ Friedrich), Neuhaus (73’ Stindl), Plea (64’ Ngoumou) – Thuram // Unused subs: Olschowsky, Lainer, Kramer, Wolf, Herrmann

Goals: 0-1 Hofmann (13’), 1-1 Kolo Muani (83’)

Attendance: 51,500 (sold-out)

Yellow cards: Kamada - Stindl, Koné

Referee: Sven Jablonski

Julian Weigl made his return to the starting line-up
Nico Elvedi was a doubt during the week, but was passed fit to start alongside Ko Itakura in defence
Jonas Hofmann led the team out as captain for the first time and netted the opening goal

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