Borussia Mönchengladbach gets up on time for the winter break – and fights for a point at TSG Hoffenheim.
A redeeming victory was already very close, but in the end they didn’t want to complain to Borussia Mönchengladbach. The 1: 1 (1: 0) at the last strong TSG Hoffenheim was a small success – after a week-long descent, there was at least one point at Christmas. And a little bit of air for the ailing coach Adi Hütter.
“We’re definitely pleased with the result, but not with the performance,” said Gladbach’s Christoph Kramer at Sky: “Basically we played a lot of shit and just knocked each ball forward. But that wasn’t the point, it was about the point . By 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve at the latest, nobody knows how we got it. “
When asked about Kramer’s criticism, Hütter said: “All in all, he’s not wrong. If you’ve lost four times in a row and your self-confidence is down, those are games in which you have to fight. We were recently accused of that, but She definitely fought today. I can live with the point. We now have to bake smaller rolls and get back to our qualities through the fight. ”
Borussia had traveled to Sinsheim with four defeats in a row, but Breel Embolo (35th) made sure that a victory at the end of the first half became more likely with every minute. It was only in stoppage time that Kevin Akpoguma (90 + 1) scored a fully deserved equalizer. Hoffenheim have been unbeaten in six games (14 points), but missed their sixth home win in a row.
Hoffenheim and Gladbach pursue usury of opportunities
The allowed 750 spectators saw Borussen completely unsettled at the beginning. The Hoffenheim should have been in the lead after a quarter of an hour. But Pavel Kaderabek (4th) and Georginio Rutter (12th) were unable to take advantage of two great opportunities.
The guests, who were missing Mamadou Doucoure, Nico Elvedi, Jonas Hofmann and the suspended Manu Kone, did not only cut a bad figure on the defensive. In the game forward, the Gladbach team lacked courage and ideas.
Nevertheless, the Hoffenheim team, who had to do without Ermin Bicakcic, Jacob Bruun Larsen, Marco John and Robert Skov, gave the Rhinelanders a great opportunity in the 22nd minute – but Lars Stindl miserably missed it. In return, Kaderabek had the hosts’ lead on their feet again (23rd).
Four minutes later, it was Rutter again who couldn’t get the ball into the Gladbach goal. After that, however, the tide turned. The guests took command. Stindl (29th), Patrick Herrmann (31st) and Embolo (34th) were close to the lead – which Embolo then scored after a corner.
At the beginning of the second half, TSG pushed for an equalizer. But again there was a lack of opportunities to exploit. This time it was Dennis Geiger who could not utilize (47th).
As the length of the game increased, the hosts acted more and more offensively, which opened up opportunities for the Gladbach team to counterattack. The best chance in this phase was once again Rutter headed after a corner (65th). Then TSG increased the number of strokes again and missed the best chances – until Akpoguma finally scored.
TSG Hoffenheim – Borussia Mönchengladbach: The coach voices
Sebastian Hoeneß (Trainer TSG Hoffenheim): “In the first 25 minutes we didn’t do that much wrong. We often failed because of Yann Sommer. After that we were too carefree, Gladbach punished that. In the second half we ran after the deficit. We did that incessantly. “
Adi Hütter (coach Borussia Mönchengladbach): “Of course we would have wished for victory with the fighting performance. But Hoffenheim of course deserved the equalizer. It was a small step forward. In our situation it was important that we interrupt the series of defeats.”
TSG Hoffenheim – Borussia Mönchengladbach: the lineups
