Enlarge image
Gladbach cheers after the 1-0 lead goal by Plea
Photo:
IMAGO/MIKA VOLKMANN / IMAGO/Mika Volkmann
After a 1-0 (1-0) win over Hertha BSC, Borussia Mönchengladbach is currently at the top of the Bundesliga table.
The hosts won thanks to a penalty by Alassane Plea, while Borussia missed a second penalty.
Hertha BSC remains without a win, but still showed a good game.
The guest was only too harmless in the end and also had to complete the final phase outnumbered.
At Mönchengladbach, captain Lars Stindl was back on the bench for the first time after his injury, and it was too early for him to start.
Even without him, Daniel Farke's team put on a lot of pressure, Alassane Plea hit the post in the early stages, later Marcus Thuram also had a good chance to score, and Hertha keeper Oliver Christensen responded strongly.
Yann Sommer sovereign
But Hertha also played along happily, had several shots on the offensive, so there was a back and forth in the first half.
Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer was wary of an overhead kick from Hertha newcomer Wilfried Kanga, the goalkeeper seems to have preserved his outstanding form from the previous season.
Gladbach needed the help of Hertha for the lead.
Maximilian Mittelstädt parried a cross into the penalty area with his elbow, and Gladbach were penalized.
Plea didn't miss the opportunity and shot in the bottom left.
The result at the break was also set.
After the change, Hertha increased the pressure with a very agile Dodi Lukebakio up front and was initially the dominant team - but without really posing any danger.
In addition, Gladbach's defense was relatively safe thanks to another strong performance by the new Japanese central defender Ko Itakura.
And another penalty
There was little relief from Gladbach during this phase, only an offside goal by Jonas Hofmann briefly caused a stir.
The picture changed in the 67th minute when Hertha was called another hand penalty.
Defender Filip Uremovic played the ball clearly with his hand after a Gladbach corner and, to make matters worse, also received a yellow-red card.
However, Jonas Hofmann failed to execute it because of Christensen.
Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz then made an offensive change, but the Berliners only managed to seriously endanger the Gladbach goal once again.
Substitute Kevin-Prince Boateng just missed a cross.
Aha