Borussia drew 0-0 against SV Darmstadt 98 on Matchday 21. The Foals were the dominant side, but couldn’t turn any of their chances into goals.
In front of 46,121 spectators, Borussia had more of the game against a well-drilled Darmstadt team. The Foals created one or two chances in the first half, including two golden opportunities. First, Franck Honorat put the ball wide after a good run inside from the left in the 16th minute. In the seventh minute of a period of injury time that lasted a full 20 after the game had been paused, Jordan smashed the ball over the bar after SVD ‘keeper Marcel Schuhen had initially kept it out. The Gladbach forward had to be substituted with injury soon after.
After the break, the Foals continued to dominate and increased the pressure and number of efforts on goal. Seoane’s side often had to try their luck from range due to a stern defensive performance from the Lilies, and struck at Darmstadt goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen on several occasions. He would however have had no chance with Borussia’s biggest opportunity in the 76th minute, when Patrick Herrmann was inches away from getting on the end of Ngoumou’s ball across the face of goal. The match though finished goalless.
TEAM NEWS
Head coach Gerardo Seoane made four changes from the starting eleven in the 3-1 defeat to FC Bayern. Ko Itakura (after returning from the Asian Cup) and Max Wöber (after recovering from an infection) returned to the side in place of Marvin Friedrich and Joe Scally. Manu Koné and Robin Hack also came in for Rocco Reitz and Nathan Ngoumou. Nico Elvedi, Itakura and Wöber therefore formed a back three in front of goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. Franck Honorat and Luca Netz functioned as wing-backs, with Julian Weigl, Florian Neuhaus and Koné in midfield. Hack and Jordan started in attack.
The Foals were without Tomáš Čvančara (ankle ligament tear) and Jonas Omlin (recovery training).
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
16’: Huge chance for 1-0! Hack plays in the advancing Honorat, who moves into the penalty area and decides to go himself. It goes wide to the right however.
--- 30’: The match is paused for around 13 minutes as tennis balls are thrown onto the pitch ---
45+7’: Jordan misses a great chance for the opener! Wöber plays it forward to Neuhaus via a bit of help from the Darmstadt defence, and the Gladbach player can’t quite beat the onrushing Schuhen. The follow-up comes to Jordan, who takes another step before firing over the bar.
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
56’: Plea beats the visitors’ defence with an excellent pass to Hack, who tries the volley. It’s too central to pose any danger to Schuhen however.
63’: A double chance for Borussia! Schuhen firstly tips Neuhaus’ well-placed strike wide for a corner. The SVD netminder then stops Honorat’s effort from the resulting set piece.
76’: So nearly the goal! Ngoumou is through on the left and plays it across towards the advancing Herrmann, who sticks out a leg but can’t quite get a toe on the ball.
90+3’: Koné gets himself on the end of a corner, but can’t head it into the net.
STATISTICS
Borussia: Nicolas – Elvedi, Itakur, Wöber (Scally 72’) – Honorat (Herrmann 72’), Weigl, Netz – Neuhaus (Reitz 72’), Koné – Hack (Ngoumou 58’), Jordan (Plea 45+16’) // Unused substitutes: Olschowsky, Friedrich, Lainer, Kramer
Darmstadt: Schuhen – Zimmermann (J. Müller 67’), Gjasula, Maglica – Bader (Nürnberger 79’), Franjic (A. Müller 12’), Holland, Karic – Mehlem (Justvan 67’) – Polter (Vilhelmsson 67’), Skarke // Unused substitutes: Brunst, Klarer, Nürnberger, Pfeiffer, Torsiello
Yellow cards: Zimmermann, Skarke, Schuhen, A. Müller, Maglica
Attendance: 46,121
Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Niederkassel)
