Borussia Mönchengladbach’s international-break friendly against SV Werder Bremen ended in a 1-0 defeat on Thursday evening. Justin Njinmah scored the game’s only goal five minutes before time.
It was clear in the opening stages that both sides were struggling to find their rhythm in the friendly clash in Willingen, with less familiar-looking line-ups sent out by the two coaches that included a number of U23s players notably lacking some chemistry. The game picked up pace after the first quarter of an hour and space began to open up at either end. Bremen had the best chance of the half when Jakob Löpping chipped Jan Olschowsky in the Gladbach goal, but Tony Jantschke raced back to clear the ball off the line. Hannes Wolf and Robin Hack also went close for the Foals though, albeit failing to test Michael Zetterer.
The over 3,000 fans at the Uplandstadion in Sauerland almost saw Borussia take the lead early in the second 45, and it would have been some goal too if Hack’s curling effort from almost 30 yards hadn’t have come crashing back off the post, and Jordan was unable to force an opening after collecting the rebound. The game was heading towards a goalless draw with few chances for either side after the break, before a missed clearance dropped to Justin Njinmah in the 85th minute and he kept his cool to secure a 1-0 win for the fellow Bundesliga side.
TEAM NEWS
Head coach Gerardo Seoane made a string of changes compared to the meeting with Bayern last weekend. Jan Olschowsky started in goal, with Jacob Italiano, Marvin Friedrich, Tony Jantschke and Phil Kemper lining up in a back-four. Rocco Reitz and captain Julian Weigl continued in midfield, although it was Patrick Herrmann, Hannes Wolf and Robin Hack slightly ahead of them on this occasion. New signing Jordan also got his first start up front in Borussia colours.
Alongside the 10 players away on international duty, Seoane was also without Jonas Omlin (shoulder) in Willingen, as well as Christoph Kramer, Manu Koné and Luca Netz – the trio are still working their way back into team training after recovering from their respective injuries. The numbers were made up by a handful of players from Eugen Polanski’s U23s, as Kemper and Italiano were also joined by Tony Reitz, Noah Andreas, Mike Schroers and Shio Fukuda.
MATCH FACTS
Borussia: Olschowsky (46' Nicolas) – Italiano (46' Honorat), Friedrich (46' Andreas), Jantschke, Kemper (78' T. Reitz) – Weigl (46' Neuhaus), R. Reitz (63' Ngoumou) – Herrmann (76' Italiano), Wolf (63' Plea), Hack (76' Fukuda) – Jordan (76' Schroers)
Bremen: Zetterer – Pieper, Rapp, Friedl – Weiser (46' Asante), Lynen, Schmid (83' Kasper), Röcker (83' Kébé) – Löpping (63' Schwarz), Njinmah (87' Imasuen), Sato (63' Kühn) // Unused subs: Dos Santos Haesler, Kasper, Kébé, Imasuen.
Goals: 0-1 Njinmah (85')
Yellow cards: Pieper
Attendance: 3,200 (Uplandstadion, Willingen)
Referee: Tim Waldinger (Rauschenberg)
