Borussia still changeable
After a desolate performance, the proud Bayern conquerors from Borussia Mönchengladbach were immediately brought back down to earth from cloud nine. Only six days after the coup against the German record champions, coach Daniel Farke’s team lost 4-0 (0-1) at FSV Mainz 05 on Friday evening at the start of the 22nd Bundesliga matchday and remain mediocre.
In front of 32,500 spectators, Jae-Sung Lee scored in the 25th minute, Marcus Ingvartsen (49th), Ludovic Ajorque (72nd) and Nelson Weiper (90+3rd) for Mainz, who thanks to their first home win against the Borussia has moved up to seventh place in the table at least overnight with 32 points for seven years. Mönchengladbach remains ninth with 29 points for the time being, but can be passed further at the weekend.
What worked against Bayern should also work against FSV. At least Farke trusted exactly the players who started the 3-2 win against Munich. After less than a quarter of an hour it was already 1-0 for Mönchengladbach. In the duel with Mainz, who had equal points up to that point, it took until the 18th minute for the first shot on goal: however, FSV professional Leandro Barreiro blocked Manu Koné’s attempt.
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The Gladbachers did not act convincingly. Keeper Jonas Omlin, who switched to Borussia during the winter change phase for Swiss compatriot Yann Sommer, who had been brought in from FC Bayern, played on the left to Nico Elvedi. He lost the ball in a duel to Danny da Costa deep in his own half. What followed was his well-measured cross inwards and a well-placed header from Lee. The South Korean national player’s fifth goal this year in the league and the lead for Mainz.
But it got even worse for Gladbach. Just a few minutes later, goalkeeper Omlin had to be treated on the pitch. The 29-year-old couldn’t go any further. The right thigh was bandaged and Tobias Sippel, five years his senior, had to work. The veteran was not tested in his fifth competitive game of the season, a shot from Ingvartsen (41st) went over it.
And on the other side? Nothing happened then. The Gladbachers were just too harmless. Robin Zentner didn’t even have to intervene, who made his first game in the FSV goal this year after his back injury and was again confirmed by coach Bo Svensson as Mainz’s number one ahead of his recently convincing substitute Finn Dahmen. The attacking midfield around captain Lars Stindl was practically ineffective for the guests, who have only been able to land one win abroad so far.
The Gladbach fans who had traveled with them could quickly forget the hope for improvement. Shortly after a Pyro interruption, the visitors tried to play the ball forward from their own half, but only managed to go about 30 meters. This time the right side failed, Ingvartsen was the beneficiary after a rebound from Sippel at the end. Farke responded and brought in another striker in Marcus Thuram. The Frenchman had the goal on his feet a little later, but failed because of Zentner. At the other end, Ajorque aimed better and overcame Sippel with a shot from a tight angle before Weiper scored – the first goal in the Bundesliga for both attackers.
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