Borussia Mönchengladbach suffered a 1-0 first leg defeat at home to Fiorentina in the last 32 of the Europa League. Dieter Hecking’s side were brilliant on the ball in the first half but could not find the back of the net despite creating the best chances. They were punished by an efficient Fiorentina team just before half time, when Federico Bernardeschi’s free kick gave the side placed eighth in Serie A the lead.
Borussia were yet to lose a competitive game under Hecking, and a run spanning six games, and the Bundesliga’s form team started the game with confidence. World Cup winner Christoph Kramer in central midfield, along with wingers Fabian Johnson and Patrick Herrmann, combined to offer the home side some wonderful opportunities early on, but captain Lars Stindl was unable to divert the ball home after Herrmann’s cutback.
Build up play goes unrewarded
Three minutes later and after Johnson had dribbled into the box, Herrmann saw his shot parried by Ciprian Tatasurano in the visitors’ goal after a textbook one-two with Thorgan Hazard. Gladbach dominated the opening half and Herrmann was very unlucky not be awarded a penalty after being fouled by Maximiliano Olivera as he was about to pull the trigger.
Fiorentina sat deep in the first period, attempting to soak up Borussia’s quick passing play. Stindl missed another golden opportunity with five minutes to go until half time before Johnson hit the post moments later. Shortly after they were made to rue those missed opportunities as Bernardeschi punished the home side by giving Fiorentina the lead with their first effort of Yann Sommer’s goal.
More chances after the break
Gladbach did not force the issue as much after the break but continued to stay on top. Johnson wasted another good chance on the hour mark and Oliver Wendt also narrowly missed finding the net with a shot from outside the box. Fiorentina continued to sit back, and only tested Sommer once more, though Borja Valero’s shot never looked like troubling the Borussia goalkeeper. Hecking made an attacking change by bringing on Josip Drmic and Andre Hahn as Gladbach created one more chance before the final whistle, but Jannik Vestergaard could only head straight at Tatarusanu in injury time.
Borussia will head to Tuscany as the outsiders for next Thursday’s second leg (kick off 21:05).
created by dfb
Borussia Mönchengladbach suffered a 1-0 first leg defeat at home to Fiorentina in the last 32 of the Europa League. Dieter Hecking’s side were brilliant on the ball in the first half but could not find the back of the net despite creating the best chances. They were punished by an efficient Fiorentina team just before half time, when Federico Bernardeschi’s free kick gave the side placed eighth in Serie A the lead.
Borussia were yet to lose a competitive game under Hecking, and a run spanning six games, and the Bundesliga’s form team started the game with confidence. World Cup winner Christoph Kramer in central midfield, along with wingers Fabian Johnson and Patrick Herrmann, combined to offer the home side some wonderful opportunities early on, but captain Lars Stindl was unable to divert the ball home after Herrmann’s cutback.
Build up play goes unrewarded
Three minutes later and after Johnson had dribbled into the box, Herrmann saw his shot parried by Ciprian Tatasurano in the visitors’ goal after a textbook one-two with Thorgan Hazard. Gladbach dominated the opening half and Herrmann was very unlucky not be awarded a penalty after being fouled by Maximiliano Olivera as he was about to pull the trigger.
Fiorentina sat deep in the first period, attempting to soak up Borussia’s quick passing play. Stindl missed another golden opportunity with five minutes to go until half time before Johnson hit the post moments later. Shortly after they were made to rue those missed opportunities as Bernardeschi punished the home side by giving Fiorentina the lead with their first effort of Yann Sommer’s goal.
More chances after the break
Gladbach did not force the issue as much after the break but continued to stay on top. Johnson wasted another good chance on the hour mark and Oliver Wendt also narrowly missed finding the net with a shot from outside the box. Fiorentina continued to sit back, and only tested Sommer once more, though Borja Valero’s shot never looked like troubling the Borussia goalkeeper. Hecking made an attacking change by bringing on Josip Drmic and Andre Hahn as Gladbach created one more chance before the final whistle, but Jannik Vestergaard could only head straight at Tatarusanu in injury time.
Borussia will head to Tuscany as the outsiders for next Thursday’s second leg (kick off 21:05).
