Mönchengladbach (dpa) – The 1-1 draw between Borussia Mönchengladbach and FSV Mainz 05 did have a winner: Yann Sommer.
It is hard to imagine that the Gladbachers would have stabilized in this difficult season without the national keeper from Switzerland, who has matured into the top European class. “We have to thank Yann Sommer, who kept us in the game with his extraterrestrial parades,” confessed Gladbach coach Adi Hütter after the fair, but in the end almost a little lucky point in the Bundesliga.
Like an octopus with eight tentacles, Sommer seemed to suck the ball in the final stages of the game, capturing the point and ensuring that Gladbach remained undefeated in the third game in a row. “We would have won this game without Yann Sommer,” said Mainz coach Bo Svensson. Despite the unbelievably bad first half of the Rheinhessen, that was not presumptuous, but accurate.
Only Gladbach played in the first half, but only scored through Breel Embolo (33rd minute). After the change, Mainz came on by bringing in Jonathan Burkardt and dominated. A game with two completely different halves, only after the break Mainz had more and better chances than Borussia in the first half. But more than Karim Onisiwo’s compensation (73rd) was not possible – because of summer.
Sommer is humble about himself
That also earned respect from the opponent. “A super summer prevented that today,” said Mainz sports director Martin Schmidt about his Swiss compatriot. With incredible reflexes, the 33-year-old parried shots and headers from Mainz, sometimes at close range. “I’m glad it worked,” Sommer said very modestly. In recent months, the goalkeeper has not only been the most consistent Borussia and thus a bargaining chip for his stumbling team, but has also been the focus of international attention.
At the European Championship last year, Sommer was the penalty hero against France in the round of 16 when he parried against world star Kylian Mbappé. In the quarterfinals against Spain, Sommer was by far the best man. His performance for the Swiss national team remained top, just like in the Bundesliga. No keeper in the German elite league holds more balls than Sommer.
Without their goalkeeper, Borussia’s worries and fears would probably be even greater this season than they already are. “We now have three games with seven points and only one goal, that’s a good record,” said Sommer about the situation of his team, which is no longer in acute danger of relegation. Mostly thanks to him.