After the rapid start in the DFB Cup, Borussia Mönchengladbach has also secured a victory in the Bundesliga. On the first matchday of the 2022/23 season, Borussia had some work to do on Saturday (06.08.2022) in the 3-1 (1-1) win against 1899 Hoffenheim.
Although Hoffenheim were outnumbered early on by a yellow-red card against Stefan Posch (19′), the guests took the lead after a counterattack by Robert Skov (25′).
Following a corner kick, Ramy Bensebaini made it 1-1 in a spectacular way before the break (42′), before Marcus Thuram rewarded the ‘foals’, who were superior over long stretches, with the 2-1 (71′). Shortly afterwards Nico Elvedi made everything clear with the 3:1 (78th).
Posch has to leave the field early
In the duel between two Bundesliga teams with a new coach, the spectators experienced a rough initial phase in which the team of Hoffenheim coach Andre Breitenreiter decimated themselves early on. Posch, who had only been booked four minutes earlier, got in a hard fight with Bensebaini from the front and had to leave the field with yellow-red.
Nevertheless, 1899 scored the first goal. When the Kraichgauer took the lead, Mönchengladbach ran into a counterattack after losing the ball. Hoffenheim played quickly into the penalty area over four stops. There Andrej Kramaric hung up for Skov, who shot in from eight meters from the left.
Bensebaini hits spectacular
Borussia, who made a spectacular appearance in coach Daniel Farke’s competitive debut in the DFB Cup, struggled for a long time without their injured captain Lars Stindl to get dangerously into the last third. And so a standard had to be used to bring the team from the Lower Rhine back into play. New signing Ko Itakura headed in from a corner from the right, and there Bensebaini brought the ball home with a spectacular overhead kick from five yards out to make it 1-1.
Thuram rewards Gladbach’s patience
In the second half, ten Hoffenheim defended themselves with a lot of effort against the stronger Gladbachers. But Borussia kept control and patience with ball possession football. Joe Scally hit the crossbar with a long-range shot (49′). Alassane Pléa forced Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper Oliver Baumann to make a strong save with a flick (61′).
In the end it was Thuram who scored the well-deserved 2-1 after a long ball relay on a pass from Pléa from inside the penalty area. So Borussia was on track. Following a corner, Pléa had the right eye again and sent a high ball in the direction of Elvedi, who made everything clear from the right corner of the penalty area.
Mönchengladbach will face FC Schalke on the 2nd matchday on Saturday (08/13/2022). Hoffenheim then plays against Bochum.