Gladbach 1: 2 against Leverkusen: Sommer saves two penalties

Created: 01/15/2022, 20:49

Mönchengladbach's Stefan Lainer (r) and Leverkusen's Mitchel Bakker fight for the ball. © Federico Gambarini/dpa

The hoped-for league catch-up race for Bayern's tormentor Borussia Mönchenladbach was slowed down again by an unfortunate defeat against Bayer Leverkusen.

On Saturday evening, coach Adi Hütter's team, which is currently being rebuilt, conceded a 1-2 (0-0) without national player Matthias Ginter, who was banned from the bench, although keeper Yann Sommer saved two penalties.

Mönchengladbach – When Ginter successor Marvin Friedrich made his debut in the starting XI, Robert Andrich scored (51st minute) after Sommer had saved a controversial penalty from striker Patrik Schick. The second Leverkusen goal was then awarded to the Czech, although Gladbach's new signing Friedrich was probably the last to have the ball. Nico Elvedi (81st) was successful too late for Borussia. In the closing stages, Sommer also saved Kerem Demribay's second penalty (88').

With that, Leverkusen, who are third in the table and now back in the Champions League, ended their five-game winless streak against their favorite opponents.

It was the fifth win in a row against Borussia.

At first it looked more like another failure.

Before the break, Gladbach, who had regained their strength after the 2-1 win at Bayern Munich, had the better chances.

The first exclamation mark of the day was set by Gladbach's coach Adi Hütter, who banished national player Matthias Ginter to the bench after Marvin Friedrich signed from Union Berlin.

"What Matthias Ginter is doing with the situation - he's professional enough, he knows that you can still use him.

The transfer window is open until the 31st,” said Hütter before the game on the Sky pay channel.

Ginter, who is on a free transfer in the summer, could leave Borussia in the next two weeks.

Friedrich played again from the start against Leverkusen a few days after his move.

In the previous week he had played 2-2 for Berlin in Leverkusen.

“On the one hand it's about the future, on the other hand it's about performance.

I didn't decide against him, but ultimately also decided for the future and for Marvin Friedrich," Hütter continued.

Friedrich initially showed an energetic and combatively convincing performance, but owed the penalty after the break and was also instrumental in the second goal conceded.

Borussia had already experienced a real horror day at 0: 4 in the first leg: Marcus Thuram, Alassane Plea and Stefan Lainer after a brutal foul by Mitchel Bakker were injured, some seriously. Ginter had been substituted the day before a positive corona test, captain Lars Stindl had missed a penalty and to make matters worse, the Leverkusen stadium management had mocked Borussia and played the Gladbach goal anthem at their home games after the fourth Bayer goal.

The fact that Borussia didn't hear this in the first half on Saturday evening was due to bad luck in the end and a lack of consistency. The game was largely at eye level, but Gladbach felt much more dangerous in attack. Most curiously, veteran Tony Jantschke missed the lead when his shot was blocked by the falling Jonathan Tah's leg in the 37th minute.

Bayer were initially lucky after the break when referee Sascha Stegemann pointed to the penalty spot after an unfortunate action by Friedrich. Gladbach's new signing had inadvertently stepped on Karim Bellarabi's foot in an uncritical position. Sommer still held the penalty from Schick, which the video referee did not collect, brilliantly. The Borussia defense was then taken by surprise in the following corner and Andrich pushed the ball over the line. This continued Leverkusen's away goal streak. The Bayer team also scored in their eleventh away game in a row.

more on the subject

Mönchengladbach in free fall after a series of bankruptcies

Freiburg still in the top 5 after a draw at Union

BVB 2: 3 at Hertha - Gladbach awards victory

Hütter reacted to the setback with a double change and a somewhat more offensive system.

Marcs Thuram, who was recently badly criticized, got another chance for a good 30 minutes, and Joe Scally, who was recently infected with the corona virus, came in for the weak Luca Netz.

Laszlo Benes, who also had to leave the field, was not a real alternative for the missing midfielders Christoph Kramer (ill) and Denis Zakaria (strain).

This opened up counterattack opportunities for Leverkusen, but initially gave Gladbach hardly any offensive options.

The second Leverkusen goal was deserved at that point before Elvedi made the prestige duel exciting again because Sommer also saved Kerem Demribay's second Leverkusen penalty in the closing stages (88').

dpa