Champions League participants Borussia Mönchengladbach have started the Bundesliga campaign with three straight defeats for the first time in their history. After back-to-back losses to Dortmund then Mainz, Werder Bremen also proved too good for the Foals, who were beaten 2-1 in northern Germany and remain bottom of the table. SVW, on the other hand, were able to celebrate their first victory of the season.
42,100 spectators watched on at the sold-out Weserstadion as the hosts took the lead from the penalty spot in the 39th minute. Anthony Ujah was felled in the box my youngster Marvin Schulz and USA international Aron Johannsson stepped up to convert from twelve yards. Former Hannover man Lars Stindl brought Borussia back on level terms on the stroke of half time though. Jannik Vestergaard headed home Zlatko Junuzovic’s corner in the 53rd minute to restore Bremen’s lead and it proved to be the decisive goal. Felix Kroos could have made calmed Werder nerves at the end, but missed an 88th-minute penalty after Gladbach’s Granit Xhaka was shown a second yellow for a high boot in the box.
Shaky Gladbach
It was clear to see that there was an air of uncertainty surrounding Lucien Favre’s men, particularly in the first half. Borussia were overly cautious in their play, unwilling to take risks and struggled to get out of their half. The only chances they had to get forward came when the home side made a mistake, as was the case for Gladbach’s equalising goal.
But the northern club were also lacking in confidence, having failed to win any of their last five Bundesliga games, a run stretching back to last season. Werder manager Viktor Skripnik was roaring his charges on from the sidelines, but initially their main threat only came through set pieces. Yann Sommer had to react well to push a Vestergaard free kick around the post.
Bremen continue to press
After the change of ends and getting themselves 2-1 in front, Bremen continued to apply the pressure but were unable to make their dominance count. Gladbach looked susceptible and struggled to keep things tight at the back, but all of a sudden they created a golden opportunity to level the scores. A neat through ball from Granit Xhaka played Patrick Herrmann in behind the SVW defence, but the Germany international dragged his shot wide of Felix Wiedwald’s goal. A similar situation developed at the other end with six minutes left on the clock, when substitute Fin Bartels charged alone towards Sommer, but the Swiss goalkeeper stood his ground and denied the Werder forward in a one-on-one.
Champions League participants Borussia Mönchengladbach have started the Bundesliga campaign with three straight defeats for the first time in their history. After back-to-back losses to Dortmund then Mainz, Werder Bremen also proved too good for the Foals, who were beaten 2-1 in northern Germany and remain bottom of the table. SVW, on the other hand, were able to celebrate their first victory of the season.
42,100 spectators watched on at the sold-out Weserstadion as the hosts took the lead from the penalty spot in the 39th minute. Anthony Ujah was felled in the box my youngster Marvin Schulz and USA international Aron Johannsson stepped up to convert from twelve yards. Former Hannover man Lars Stindl brought Borussia back on level terms on the stroke of half time though. Jannik Vestergaard headed home Zlatko Junuzovic’s corner in the 53rd minute to restore Bremen’s lead and it proved to be the decisive goal. Felix Kroos could have made calmed Werder nerves at the end, but missed an 88th-minute penalty after Gladbach’s Granit Xhaka was shown a second yellow for a high boot in the box.
Shaky Gladbach
It was clear to see that there was an air of uncertainty surrounding Lucien Favre’s men, particularly in the first half. Borussia were overly cautious in their play, unwilling to take risks and struggled to get out of their half. The only chances they had to get forward came when the home side made a mistake, as was the case for Gladbach’s equalising goal.
But the northern club were also lacking in confidence, having failed to win any of their last five Bundesliga games, a run stretching back to last season. Werder manager Viktor Skripnik was roaring his charges on from the sidelines, but initially their main threat only came through set pieces. Yann Sommer had to react well to push a Vestergaard free kick around the post.
Bremen continue to press
After the change of ends and getting themselves 2-1 in front, Bremen continued to apply the pressure but were unable to make their dominance count. Gladbach looked susceptible and struggled to keep things tight at the back, but all of a sudden they created a golden opportunity to level the scores. A neat through ball from Granit Xhaka played Patrick Herrmann in behind the SVW defence, but the Germany international dragged his shot wide of Felix Wiedwald’s goal. A similar situation developed at the other end with six minutes left on the clock, when substitute Fin Bartels charged alone towards Sommer, but the Swiss goalkeeper stood his ground and denied the Werder forward in a one-on-one.
