With the first win after the last four home defeats in a row, Borussia Mönchengladbach has managed a liberation in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga.
Coach Adi Hütter’s team beat their direct rivals FC Augsburg 3-2 (1-0) on Saturday and were able to extend their lead over the relegation place to four points. Augsburg, on the other hand, remain in a dangerous situation with just one win from the past six games. In front of 10,000 spectators in Borussia-Park, Manu Koné (30th minute), Jonas Hofmann (46th) and Ramy Bensebaini (67th) scored the goals for the hosts, Iago (55th) and Alfred Finnbogason (90th + 3rd minute). ) scored for Augsburg.
Gladbach’s coach had no reason to change his starting XI, especially since Christoph Kramer initially only sat on the bench after the forced Corona break and Florian Neuhaus again took over the defensive part in midfield next to Koné. In the first home game in front of a larger crowd, the hosts had their first chances against a high-running Augsburger through Hofmann and Neuhaus – both missed the goal just as narrowly as Alassane Pléa in the 24th minute.
Guest coach Markus Weinzierl only had to change his double six after the 2-0 win against Union Berlin because of Arne Maier’s absence and brought on Jan Moravek. His team disturbed Gladbach early on in the build-up and waited for mistakes. Ex-Borussian Andre Hahn used one of them with a header, but goalkeeper Yann Sommer reacted quickly and was again a safe support for his team this afternoon.
FCA goal comes too late
The Gladbachers dominated the game, combined safely up to the penalty area, but then lacked the urge to score. Whether Hofmann or Pléa – the callousness was often missing. Koné did better, catching a sensitive cross from Pléa with his head and scoring the deserved 1-0 lead after half an hour.
The guests remained dangerous with set pieces and counterattacks, played without frills and had a highly motivated attacking player in Hahn who was waiting for every opportunity. But with the first chance after the restart, the hosts made it 2-0 through Hofmann, who converted a pass from Bensebaini directly, and had the game under control. However, Iago scored his first goal of the season to make it 2-1, but after a nice move by Gladbach with fine preparatory work from Neuhaus, Bensebaini made it 3-1 with a header before Finnbogason made it 2-3.