Friday 5 November 2021

“Stop playing football”
Mönchengladbach missed the win in Mainz

After the Bayern Munich party and the win over Bochum, Borussia Mönchengladbach had no other reason to cheer. In the Bundesliga, the Champions League hopeful at FSV Mainz 05 gives up his potential win.

Borussia Mönchengladbach had to accept a sensitive damper in the fight for a place in the Champions League. At FSV Mainz 05, coach Adi Hütter’s team came to the start of the 11th round of the German Bundesliga only for 1:1 (1:0). Before reaching the maximum number of spectators of 25 thousand spectators, Florian Neuhaus (38) put Gladbach ahead after a foul by Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner with a goal from close range.

The equalizer that Mainz deserves in the difficult match Sylvain Widmer (76th minute) managed to score a superb shot into the corner of the goal. Mainz maintained fifth place in the standings, and Mönchengladbach improved to ninth for the time being. “We stopped playing football in the second half. Mainz deserved the equalizer in the end. We decided to do more for the away game”, criticized Newhouse, the top scorer for broadcasting service DAZN, but was happy with his first goal of the season: “It was a great feeling for me. “.

Mainz was relieved to win the point. “It feels like two points,” said Sylvain Widmer. “Today’s draw is well deserved. We were the most active team at times. We took that point with us. In the end we had more power.”

A large crowd of spectators initially spoiled the usual operations of the guests. Because the Gladbachers were stuck in a traffic jam, they arrived at the stadium with a slight delay. This is not optimal because you don’t have the operations you want, said managing director Max Eberl. However, he did not see it as a bad omen. “We were a little late in the game against Bayern Munich and I think the effect wasn’t too bad after that,” he said. Mönchengladbach had defeated the German champions 5-0 in the second round of the DFB Cup.

Contrary to Eberle’s hope, coach Addie Hutter’s side didn’t develop comically at first. Without regular captain Lars Stindel, who hasn’t been in the starting line-up for the first time since May, Gladbach’s squad wouldn’t really start. This was due to the strong fighting and running of Maines, which greatly annoyed the guests early in the match. The hosts, with whom captain Moussa Niakhate played from the start after a thigh injury healed, put up promising chances unlike Gladbach’s side.

Double misfortune with injuries

However, both Jonathan Burkhardt and Karim Onissio failed to score. In addition, Dennis Zakaria, who was in the starting lineup despite his digestive issues during the week, prevented more chances for Maines with a big commitment. After nearly half an hour, the guests suffered twice as bad luck with injuries. Nico Elvede first had to leave the field after a foul with an ankle injury and was replaced by Florian Neuhaus. Shortly thereafter, Brill Empolo walked off the field with a damaged thigh, and in the 30th minute long-injured Marcus Thuram celebrated his comeback for him.

Eight minutes later, a handicapped Gladbacher surprisingly took the lead thanks to a mistake by Ruben Zentner: Mainz goalkeeper Rami Bensbini fired a shot, clearing substitute Neuhaus from close range. Mainz started the second half with great momentum and had a good chance to equalize through Jae-Sung Lee with a long-range shot and Onezio.

On the other hand, the guests attempted to smooth out the match using ball relays but with limited success. Mainz still has more convincing chances, but Alexander Hack, Burckhardt and Lee – also because Gladbach goalkeeper Jan Sommer brilliantly saved again and again. The Swiss was weak at the time when his compatriot hit and destroyed a well-earned shot into the corner of the goal.