Borussia Mönchengladbach’s season is going from bad to worse, and in the weekend leading up to their Champions League opener, they are truly in crisis. Manager Lucien Favre’s side were beaten 3-0 by Hamburger SV on Matchday 4 of the Bundesliga, making four defeats from four, and leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table.
Even after making several changes to the team, Favre’s last game before the Champions League clash with Sevilla on Tuesday (20:45 CEST) did not see the turn of fortunes that he and the Gladbach fans were hoping for – quite the opposite. Pierre-Michel Lasogga made a nervy Gladbach side pay for their mistakes in the first half with two goals in the 11th and the 44th minute. In the 52nd minute, Nicolai Müller put the game beyond doubt, secured the second win of the campaign for the team that was nearly relegated last season, and inflicted the highest home defeat on Gladbach since they lost 4-1 to Werder Bremen five years ago on the 23rd October 2010.
Stranzl with a suspected broken cheekbone
As well as the defeat, Gladbach have had to suffer another setback. Captain Martin Stranzl – on his return from injury after five and a half months – was forced off in the 65th minute with what is believed to be a broken cheekbone
In a full Borussia-Park, in front of 54,010 fans, HSV’s new signing Aaron Hunt was, as expected, in the starting XI. Hunt was the instigator of the game’s first highlight after two minutes, as he capitalised on a mistake by Roel Brouwers, sent a firm cross into the goalmouth which Stranzl nearly deflected into his own net.
After a bad start to the campaign, Gladbach looked extremely nervy and Hamburg took advantage. An under hit back pass by Tony Jantschke was intercepted by Lasogga who brought it round the keeper to give HSV a deserved lead.
Xhaka was missed in every aspect of the game
In the absence of Granit Xhaka, the Champions League side lacked structure, and had next to nothing to offer going forward. After half an hour, Favre stood watching helplessly from the sideline.
HSV on the other hand, were effective in their play and made it 2-0 just before half time after a corner from Ivo Ilicevic was met by Lasogga who headed home for his second. The Gladbach defence found themselves sleeping at the corner.
In the 55th minute, Favre responded with a double substitution: Josip Drmic and Ibrahima Traoré replaced Brouwers and Lars Stindl. By this time, the game was already out of Borussia’s reach. A big kick by goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny – starting in place of the injured Rene Adler – was met by Müller who reacted quicker than the Gladbach defence to make it 3-0 to the visitors.
