Borussia picked up a 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart in the first competitive game of 2024 and the final match of the first round of Bundesliga matches. Robin Hack grabbed a brace, while substitute Jordan wrapped up the win late on.
In front of around 53,500 spectators at BORUSSIA-PARK, the Foals had the dream start against the league’s third-placed side. Robin Hack put Gladbach ahead after just 21 seconds, making it the fastest goal of this Bundesliga season so far. The Foals dominated after the early lead and created a succession of goalscoring chances. They took one of these in the 19th minute. Again it was Hack who netted for Borussia and therefore completed his first brace in Foals colours. The visitors from Stuttgart were much more dangerous in attack from the middle of the first half, but couldn’t find a goal thanks to a solid defensive performance from the Foals.
After the break, VfB Stuttgart started the better. After Deniz Undav’s effort had been saved by Moritz Nicolas, Josha Vagnoman cut the deficit for the guests in the 56th minute. Stuttgart then began to pile on the pressure again, but the Foals defended determinedly and aggressively. Borussia became more dangerous as the second half went on, and wrapped up the game at 3-1 through substitute Jordan.
TEAM NEWS
Head coach Gerardo Seoane made just one change to his starting eleven from the final Bundesliga game of 2023 (the 2-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt). Marvin Friedrich replaced the suspended Max Wöber. Joe Scally, Nico Elvedi, Friedrich and Luca Netz made up the back four in front of goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. The three in midfield were Julian Weigl, Rocco Reitz and Manu Koné, while Franck Honorat, Robin Hack and Alassane Plea started in attack.
Borussia were missing Ko Itakura (Asian Cup), Jonas Omlin and Lukas Ullrich (recovering from shoulder operations).
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
1’: A LIGHTNING QUICK START FROM THE FOALS!! 🤩 Straight from kick-off, Honorat lays it off to Reitz on the right touchline, who takes a few steps inside before brilliantly playing it into the path of Hack. The 25-year-old doesn’t hesitate and finds the far corner for 1-0 just 21 seconds after the start of the game.
9’: The next big chance for Borussia. This time, Hack sets Honorat in on goal with a superb pass. Nübel though gets to it and turns the ball around the post.
19’: After a goal kick for the visitors, the ball lands at the feet of Plea, who excellently threads it through the centre into Hack. Borussia’s number 25 finishes calmly to complete his first brace in Foals colours and make it 2-0. 😍
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
48’: Führich sends a corner low into the middle, where Undav is free and shoots. Nicolas though is on the spot and saves.
56’: The guests reduce the deficit to 2-1. The ball somewhat accidentally comes to substitute Leweling, who squares it to Vagnoman on the edge of the penalty area. The Stuttgart player strikes it with his left foot and finishes into the bottom corner.
78’: A double chance for Gladbach. Friedrich just misses the right moment to finish off Ngoumou’s cross and in the end it’s blocked. After another Ngoumou cross, the ball lands at the feet of Koné, who plays it across goal with pace to substitute Jordan. The American tries to flick the ball in with his feel, but can’t quite control it correctly.
82’: A huge chance for the Foals! Jordan plays it to Hack on the wing, who then travels some distance with the ball and aims for the far corner from the inside right position, but it goes just wide of the post.
90+1’: Ngoumou finds Koné on the left. He drives forward and hits the inside of the post from around 16 yards. The ball though falls to Jordan, who puts it in the empty net to wrap the game up at 3-1. 🙌
STATISTICS
Borussia: Nicolas – Scally, Elvedi, Friedrich, Netz – Weigl, Reitz, Koné (Kramer 90+3’) – Honorat (Ngoumou 75’), Hack (Neuhaus 90+2’), Plea (Jordan 66’) // Unused substitutes: Olschowsky, Chiarodia, Jantschke, Herrmann, Ranos
Stuttgart: Nübel – Stenzel (Leweling 46’), Anton, Zagadou, Mittelstädt (Rouault 46’) – Karazor (Raimund 82’) Stiller - Vagnoman, Millot, Führich – Undav // Unused substitutes: Bredlow, Sterigou, Cisse, Haraguchi, Paula, Milosevic
Goals: 1-0 Hack (1’), 2-0 Hack (19’), 2-1 Vagnoman (56’), 3-1 Jordan (90+1’)
Yellow cards: Weigl, Elvedi, Kramer / Mittelstädt, Raimund, Millot
Referee: Harm Osmers (Hanover)
Attendance: 53,429
