Many faces from German football now operate largely unnoticed by the media abroad. Today in the sport.de spotlight: A former attacker from VfB Stuttgart and a former coach from Eintracht Frankfurt.
It just wasn’t Nicolás González’s day. His biggest opponent in Fiorentina’s Serie A game against Bayern Munich’s Champions League opponent Lazio Rome: the post.
In the first half of the game on matchday 26 in Italy, the former VfB Stuttgart winger had his first big opportunity to take the lead. But the Argentine put the ball at the goal after a successful combination. Two more aluminum goals from the home team followed – before what had to happen happened: the capital city team took the lead with the first chance of the game through Luis Alberto (45th).
But Vincenzo Italiano’s team didn’t give up. The equalizer from full-back talent Michael Kayode (61st) was long overdue. By the way, how could it be otherwise? The 19-year-old’s shot initially hit the bottom edge of the crossbar and from there into the net.
Ex-Stuttgart attacker González back in form after injury
But then the Tuscans’ number ten, Nicolás González, was once again the focus. After a penalty was awarded, the 25-year-old took responsibility – and, of course, failed at the post (67′). The fact that Florence were still able to celebrate against their direct neighbors in the table was ultimately due to Giacomo Bonaventura’s shot (69th), which shortly afterwards made the final score 2-1.
And so the former Stuttgart player (45 Bundesliga games, eight goals), who moved to Italy in the summer of 2021 for almost 25 million euros, should not take his aluminum curse too seriously. Fiorentina overtook Lazio in the table and is now heading back towards the European Cup places in seventh place.
From a personal perspective, González’s season is already impressive: after scoring five goals in the first eight matchdays, he was only slowed down by a thigh injury in December and January. He is now back on the offensive flanks.
Rollercoaster ride in Lens: Adi Hütter’s tactical trick works
Fans in the French Ligue 1 experienced a similarly grueling game last weekend, when AS Monaco won 3-2 (2-1) against reigning runners-up RC Lens. Also there: former Bundesliga coach Adi Hütter on the sidelines and former Gladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria on the pitch.
A tactical trick from the Austrian, who coached Eintracht Frankfurt between 2018 and 2021 and then Borussia Mönchengladbach for a season, also worked. Because: Against Lens, the Monaco coach suddenly relied on a 4-4-2 system with a double leadership.
The change took effect immediately: striker Falorin Balogun (19th) took the lead 1-0, an own goal from goalkeeper Brice Samba (30th) initially made things clear. However, Lens hit back again through Elye Wahi (31st) and Wesley Said (77th). When Samba saved a penalty from Balogun in the final phase (82′), everything looked like a draw.
Former Gladbacher Zakaria is blossoming again
But then the hour came for ex-Liverpool professional Takumi Minamino, who scored the winning goal for Monaco in the second minute of injury time after an outstanding individual performance. “To be honest, he played an incredible game, he delivered an outstanding performance!” praised ex-Gladbacher Zakaria, who is finally back on the rise after leaving Borussia Mönchengladbach in January 2022.
The 27-year-old followed the call of Juventus Turin, but was then loaned out to Chelsea FC after just six months. Juve finally sold the Swiss to Monaco last summer for 20 million euros, where he signed until 2028. The move seems to be paying off; under Adi Hütter, he is one of the regulars in the central midfield, just like in his Gladbach days.
After the win in Lens, Hütter and his team managed to climb to third place in the table, the gap to the surprise second-placed Stade Brestois is now only two points. “We were very good in the transition game from the start, set a lot of pace and relied on verticality,” said the former Bundesliga coach, looking forward to the next top game on the next matchday. Then Paris Saint-Germain will be guests at the Stade Louis II.
Gerrit Kleiböhmer