Borussia suffered a 3-1 defeat at FC Bayern on Matchday 20 of the Bundesliga. Nico Elvedi had initially put the Foals in front.
In front of 75,024 spectators at a sold-out Allianz Arena, the hosts controlled the game from the start and forced the Foals to sit deep in their own half. Borussia though defended doggedly and passionately, just as they did last week at Bayer Leverkusen. As the game went on, the Foals broke more and more out of the hosts’ clutches and began to burst forward themselves. They got their reward after about half an hour when Nico Elvedi found the back of the Bayern net after playing a one-two with Jordan. Borussia though just failed to go into the break in the lead. Aleksandar Pavlovic instead equalised for Bayern on the stroke of half time.
In the second half, Gladbach had more of the game than they had at the start of the first, and did not let this get in the way of their defensive work. Bayern though completed the turnaround through Harry Kane around the halfway point of the second period. The Foals did not let this rattle them and continued to throw everything at it, but Matthijs de Ligt made it 3-1 to settle the match once and for all.
TEAM NEWS
Borussia head coach Gerardo Seoane made two changes from the 0-0 draw at league leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Rocco Reitz, who during the week extended his contract with Borussia until 2028, returned to the starting eleven in place of Manu Koné. Nathan Ngoumou also came in for Robin Hack. Joe Scally, Marvin Friedrich, Nico Elvedi and Luca Netz made up the back four in front of goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. Julian Weigl featured alongside Reitz and Florian Neuhaus in midfield. Franck Honorat, Ngoumou and Jordan started in attack.
Tomáš Čvančara (ankle ligament tear), Patrick Herrmann (knee problems) and Jonas Omlin (recovery training after a shoulder operation) all missed the game in Munich. The match away at the champions also came too early for Max Wöber, who is still in recovery training after a bad infection. Similarly, Alassane Plea was unavailable after his foot injury. Ko Itakura was away at the Asian Cup.
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
5’: The first big chance for Bayern. Mazraoui and Kane play a one-two before the former finds Sané in the penalty area. The Germany international’s effort hits the underside of the bar.
10’: Another massive chance for the champions. Müller lifts it through to Sané and the forward strikes it wide to the left from about six yards out under pressure from the Foals defence.
34’: Jordan gets his head to the ball after a cross from the right, but it goes just wide of goal.
35’: GOAAAAAALLL FOR BORUSSIA!!! Elvedi intercepts a pass from Neuer to Müller, plays a one-two with Jordan and finishes low into the bottom right corner to give Gladbach a 1-0 lead.
45’: Bayern equalise on the stroke of half time. Müller plays the ball into the path of Pavlovic, who runs into the six-yard box and strikes it into the bottom left corner for 1-1.
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
47’: Netz has a go from distance. It takes a deflection off Jordan, which makes it dangerous for Neuer. The ball though spins just wide of the right post.
70’:Müller and Nicolas climb to try and get to Goretzka’s cross and Borussia’s keeper can’t quite get enough on it. Kane pounces and heads into the net to make it 2-1.
86’: Sané plays a free kick into the Foals’ penalty area from the left, and de Ligt climbs highest to head it in off the underside of the bar and wrap the game up at 3-1.
STATISTICS
Bayern: Neuer, Mazraoui (Boey 62’), de Ligt, Dier, Davies (Guerreiro 85’), Pavlovic, Goretzka, Sané, Müller (Tel 71’), Musiala, Kane // Unused substitutes: Ulreich, Aznou, Zvonarek, Krätzig, Choupo-Moting, Zaragoza
Borussia: Nicolas, Scally, Friedrich, Elvedi, Netz (Lainer 62’), Weigl, Reitz (Fukuda 85’), Neuhaus (Koné 62’), Honorat (Ranos 89’), Ngoumou (Hack 62’), Jordan // Unused substitutes: Olschowsky, Chiarodia, Jantschke, Kramer, Ranos
Goals: 0-1 Elvedi (35’), 1-1 Pavlovic (45’), 2-1 Kane (70’), 3-1 de Ligt (86’)
Yellow cards: Neuhaus
Attendance: 75,024 (Allianz Arena)
Referee: Tobias Stieler (Hamburg)
