Ripped off and clever! Union wins 2-1 (1-1) at Borussia Mönchengladbach and moves up to fourth place in the table – a place in the Champions League.
The troubled hosts delivered a decent game and dominated the game over long periods. But with the only two chances to score in the Unioner game, former Gladbacher Max Kruse (18th minute / penalty and 84th) shot the staid guests to an undeserved victory. Gladbach did not reward themselves for a convincing and committed performance this time and only managed to equalize in the meantime through Manu Koné (40th).
Match winner Kruse on the Sky microphone: “Today we were a bit luckier. But 34 points isn’t just luck, it’s hard work. You have to commend the club for what they have achieved in recent years.” He said of fourth place: “That’s a snapshot. Everyone is grounded here, nobody picks up.”
It is unclear whether Borussia coach Adi Hütter will still be coach of Borussia after the seventh defeat in the last nine competitive games in the next game at Arminia Bielefeld on February 5. Sports director Max Kruse is ill and was unable to provide any information on the situation on Saturday. Despite the improved performance, the Gladbachers are not moving in the table and remain in midfield with 22 points.
Even against Union, it quickly ran again against the eleven from the Lower Rhine. Subsequently and at the initiative of the video referee, referee Felix Brych watched a scene in the Gladbach penalty area again. In fact, Denis Zakaria had previously scored the ball with his hand. The penalty, which Kruse safely converted, was justified. Borussia didn’t let themselves get stuck.
Gladbach remained committed, although it was difficult against the cleverly defending and very defensive Berliners, but deservedly equalized before the break. Based on a class action by Breel Embolo, Koné completed a well-considered assist from Hofmann for his first Bundesliga goal for Gladbach. Frederik Rönnow, who had surprisingly been given preference over regular keeper Andreas Luthe, was powerless in the Berliner Tor. The Dane last played in the Bundesliga almost a year ago, back then for Schalke 04.
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After the change, only the fight dominated – which, given the past few weeks, was quite a success from Gladbach’s point of view. The now very disorganized game was no longer attractive. Borussia tried to play with playful accents, Union was only concerned with sometimes clumsy actions to destroy. Goal scenes were missing for a long time, especially the guests didn’t get into attack mode at all in the second half.
Union’s winning goal came out of nowhere a good five minutes before the end of the game.