Ranos and Weigl on the scoresheet in 2-2 draw with Montpellier

The Foals drew 2-2 in their final game of pre-season against HSC Montpellier. Grant-Leon Ranos and Julian Weigl scored the goals for VfL.

At the dress rehearsal before the start of the 2023/24 competitive calendar, the Foals acquitted themselves well in front of around 13,000 spectators at BORUSSIA-PARK. After half an hour, head coach Gerardo Seoane’s team managed to turn their superiority into goals. Firstly, Grant-Leon Ranos struck his first goal at his new home in spectacular style, before Julian Weigl extended the lead to 2-0 just five minutes later. Afterwards, the Foals somewhat took their foot off the gas. Montpellier took full advantage and brought it back to 2-2 before the break through Téji Savanier and Mousa Al-Tamari. After the pause, the Foals took control again, but despite various good opportunities could not find a winner.

TEAM NEWS

Borussia’s new captain Jonas Omlin tended the goal. In front of him was a back-three of Joe Scally, Marvin Friedrich and new signing Maximilian Wöber, who made his debut for the Foals against Montpellier, while Julian Weigl and Ko Itakura sat in front as the two number sixes. Franck Honorat started on the right and Luca Netz on the left flank. Offensively, head coach Gerardo Seoane placed his trust in Nathan Ngoumou, Alassane Plea and Grant-Leon Ranos.

Not featuring on Saturday were Christoph Kramer (knee), Manu Koné (recovering from knee injury), Florian Neuhaus (muscle strain), Tomáš Čvančara (rested) and Stefan Lainer (cancer).

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

9’: Ngoumou drives forward from the left wing. His subsequent pass to Ranos is slightly misplaced, meaning the attacker can’t quite make the most of it.

21’: Khazri plays the ball to Savanier in the penalty area, who cuts in from the inside left position. Omlin is however on the spot and parries.

30’: What a goal for 1-0! Ranos picks up the ball in the centre, takes a few steps and curls into the top right corner from 20 metres.

35’: Itakura wins the ball in the centre circle and brings it forward quickly. Honorat drives forward from the right wing and puts a low cross into the middle, where Weigl arrives perfectly to divert past Lecomte – 2-0.

42’: The visitors take a short corner, from which captain Savanier scores from distance into the far corner. – 2-1.

45’: Shortly before the break, the visitors level. Al-Tamari dribbles into the box. His first effort is blocked but he lobs the second into the far corner.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

48’: First good opportunity for the Foals in the second period. After some clever interpassing, Ranos plays the ball back to the advancing Plea. However, the Frenchman’s shot flies over the bar.

61’: The Foals lose the ball during the build-up and Montpellier break quickly. Al-Tamari receives the ball in the penalty area but hits the side netting from a tight angle.

64’: Weigl puts a free kick from about 20 metres out over the visitors’ goal.

STATISTICS

Borussia: Omlin (Nicolas 46’) – Scally, Friedrich (Elvedi 82’), Wöber (Jantschke 64’) – Honorat (Hack 64’), Weigl (Fraulo 82’), Itakura (Reitz 64’), Netz (Chiarodia 75’) – Plea (Wolf 82’), Ngoumou (Borges Sanches 75’) – Ranos (Herrmann 64’) // Unused substitutes: Sippel

Montpellier: Lecomte – Falaye, Jullien, Kouyaté, Sylla – Ferri, Chotard (Leroy 71’) – Al-Tamari (Delaye 87’), Savanier, Fayad – Khazri (Ndiaye 46’) // Unused substitutes: Bertaud, Estève, Omeragic, Tchato, Mincarelli, Issoufou, Sakho 

Goals: 1-0 Ranos (30’), 2-0 Weigl (35’), 2-1 Savanier (42’), 2-2 Al-Tamari (45’)

Yellow cards: Netz / Kouyaté, Al-Tamari

Attendance: 13,002

Referee: Dr. Robin Braun