Borussia Mönchengladbach are in a good position for their Round of 16 Europa League return leg. Manager Dieter Hecking’s team obtained a 1-1 result in the first leg at Gelsenkirchen, and have a shot at progressing through to the quarter-finals next Thursday (21:05 CET). Jonas Hofmann grabbed the crucial away goal in the 15th minute, whilst Schalke striker Guido Burgstaller equalised in the 25th minute. In the closing stages of the game, Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer made critical stops to keep the score as it was.
As it stands, a 0-0 would suffice for Borussia in the return leg, in order for them to be one of the last eight teams standing in the Europa League, a feat they have not achieved for 21 years.
Jonas Hofmann scores his first goal for Gladbach
Schalke Manager Markus Weinzierl made only two changes to the team that lost 4-2 in the Bundesliga last Saturday, but did make a big change in reverting to a four-back formation for the first time since October, with Johannes Geis starting as a second holding midfielder.
Weinzierl hoped for more stability at the back, in light of the fact his squad had given up seven goals in their last two games. However, the centre of the defense was under pressure early on from Gladbach’s fast-paced attacks. After Alessandro Schöpf was dispossessed, Lars Stindl made a pinpoint pass which Hofmann latched on to, and he found himself all alone prior to finishing past Ralf Fährmann. It was the ex-Dortmund player’s first goal for the Foals.
Gladbach manager Dieter Hecking made three changes to his starting lineup: Tobias Strobl played in place of suspended World Champion Christoph Kramer, Timothee Kolodziejczak came in for defensive stalwart Andreas Christensen, and Patrick Herrmann was deployed on the right.
Burgstaller equalises in style, Sommer tested
With the score-line in their favour, the guests sat back and waited on further Schalke mistakes, but the Royal Blues used a loss of possession from Raffael to their advantage, with Leon Goretzka advancing on the counter and assisting Burgstaller’s fourth goal in eleven games.
The second half saw Weinzierl bring on Bentaleb for defensive midfielder Benjamin Stambouli. World Cup winner Benedikt Höwedes had the best chance at giving Schalke the lead through a header in the 61st minute. Gladbach remained a threat on the counter, but were lacking a final ball. The freshly introduced Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (74’) had a large impact on the game, with two chances at getting their second goal. He had a shot saved by Gladbach goalkeeper Sommer, before heading inches wide of the far post.
In the concluding phase of the game Schalke pressed on in search of the winning goal, but Weinzierl’s team failed to capitalize on their best chances. Centre-forward Burgstaller’s deflected shot ricocheted off the crossbar, only for Daniel Caligiuiri to follow up with a shot straight at Sommer. The Swiss international was in the thick of the action, saving shots from Choupo-Moting in the 87th minute as well as parrying Geis’ freekick in the 89th.
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Borussia Mönchengladbach are in a good position for their Round of 16 Europa League return leg. Manager Dieter Hecking’s team obtained a 1-1 result in the first leg at Gelsenkirchen, and have a shot at progressing through to the quarter-finals next Thursday (21:05 CET). Jonas Hofmann grabbed the crucial away goal in the 15th minute, whilst Schalke striker Guido Burgstaller equalised in the 25th minute. In the closing stages of the game, Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer made critical stops to keep the score as it was.
As it stands, a 0-0 would suffice for Borussia in the return leg, in order for them to be one of the last eight teams standing in the Europa League, a feat they have not achieved for 21 years.
Jonas Hofmann scores his first goal for Gladbach
Schalke Manager Markus Weinzierl made only two changes to the team that lost 4-2 in the Bundesliga last Saturday, but did make a big change in reverting to a four-back formation for the first time since October, with Johannes Geis starting as a second holding midfielder.
Weinzierl hoped for more stability at the back, in light of the fact his squad had given up seven goals in their last two games. However, the centre of the defense was under pressure early on from Gladbach’s fast-paced attacks. After Alessandro Schöpf was dispossessed, Lars Stindl made a pinpoint pass which Hofmann latched on to, and he found himself all alone prior to finishing past Ralf Fährmann. It was the ex-Dortmund player’s first goal for the Foals.
Gladbach manager Dieter Hecking made three changes to his starting lineup: Tobias Strobl played in place of suspended World Champion Christoph Kramer, Timothee Kolodziejczak came in for defensive stalwart Andreas Christensen, and Patrick Herrmann was deployed on the right.
Burgstaller equalises in style, Sommer tested
With the score-line in their favour, the guests sat back and waited on further Schalke mistakes, but the Royal Blues used a loss of possession from Raffael to their advantage, with Leon Goretzka advancing on the counter and assisting Burgstaller’s fourth goal in eleven games.
The second half saw Weinzierl bring on Bentaleb for defensive midfielder Benjamin Stambouli. World Cup winner Benedikt Höwedes had the best chance at giving Schalke the lead through a header in the 61st minute. Gladbach remained a threat on the counter, but were lacking a final ball. The freshly introduced Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (74’) had a large impact on the game, with two chances at getting their second goal. He had a shot saved by Gladbach goalkeeper Sommer, before heading inches wide of the far post.
In the concluding phase of the game Schalke pressed on in search of the winning goal, but Weinzierl’s team failed to capitalize on their best chances. Centre-forward Burgstaller’s deflected shot ricocheted off the crossbar, only for Daniel Caligiuiri to follow up with a shot straight at Sommer. The Swiss international was in the thick of the action, saving shots from Choupo-Moting in the 87th minute as well as parrying Geis’ freekick in the 89th.
