Borussia must shake again: a difficult decision annoys Gladbach

Tuesday 1 December 2020

Borussia Mönchengladbach awards the first ball of the match. After the dramatic defeat in the Champions League against Inter, Borussia now need a point at Real Madrid. As in the first leg, the star Lukaku proves to be a scare of Gladbach with two goals.

After the match point awarded to the historic round of 16, Matthias Ginter and his teammates rushed towards referee Danny Makkelie, gesturing wildly. The referee had not previously made himself popular when he withdrew the alleged compensation from Alassane Plea after studying video. Instead of a belated sense of accomplishment, Borussia Mönchengladbach beat Inter 2: 3 (1: 1) at the end. Now there is a “final” in the Champions League at Real Madrid.

“We are disappointed. We were close to another result,” said coach Marco Rose, who did not understand the 3: 3 retired in the 83rd minute. Swiss Breel Embolo allegedly hindered Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to graduate Pleas. “The offside constellation at Breel is not hindering the goalkeeper. Then it doesn’t matter if he jumps to his feet. You can give the goal,” Rose said angrily to DAZN. Florian Neuhaus gave the path for next week’s group final: “But we still have one game, then we’ll make it against Real.”

There is enough for the foals, who still remain leaders in the standings due to the royal team’s astonishing 0-2 defeat at Shakhtar Donetsk and will hibernate at least in the Europa League, one point to advance. Matteo Darmian (17th) takes Inter in the lead, just before the interval Alassane Plea (45th + 1) draws. Then Milan striker Romelu Lukaku (64./73.) Hit twice. Plea (76th) also made it with his second goal.

Inter are having a restless night

Rose offered her best team again after the 4: 1 rotation against Schalke. Captain Lars Stindl, Stefan Lainer and Christoph Kramer returned to the starting lineup, Nico Elvedi quit on short notice due to a muscle injury. The Inter-convoy, on the other hand, had a restless night: according to the police, strangers burned several batteries of fireworks and other pyrotechnic material in front of the Lombardi’s hotel around 4 am.

Gladbach pressed right from the start. However, Inter used the aggressive approach to become dangerous in the game of the round. First Toni Jantschke blocked twice against Lautaro Martinez, before the Argentine hit the winger a few seconds later (6th). After a shot from veteran Ashley Young (15th) went to safety, Darmian made Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer look very badly from close range with a shot in the leg two minutes later.

Even after the opening goal, the visitors continued to show enthusiasm, but Gladbach initially seemed a bit stunned. Nicolò Barella’s long-range shot just passed the goal. Only after half an hour Gladbach Zug indicated the goal: Stindl tried directly from a difficult position with a free kick (31st), while Lazaro had no pressure on the ball moments later when he finished.

Handanovic saves Inter several times

Unimpressed by the foals’ first offensive signs of life, Inter continued to show their counterattack skills. At Martinez’s second chance, however, Sommer was hard at work. In the cold and wet conditions of Borussia Park, a very fast game developed in which Gladbach also got better and better. In Borussia’s best double chance, Inter goalkeeper Handanovic was present against Lainer’s long-range shot and Stindl’s header (36th). Handanovic did even better seconds later when Thuram’s low shot, which he brilliantly pushed back with his fingertips. Then Plea nodded coolly after a soulful cross from Lazaro with his head.

Inspired by the draw, Gladbach came out better from the second half. The move to a more offensive 3-5-2 helped the hosts at the start. When Thuram had a huge chance to take the lead, the ball slipped over his head (51.). As a result, the foals got lucky when Martinez hit the post out of nowhere – then Belgian international Lukaku scored in typical fashion. Rose put it all on one card and brought another striker to Breel Embolo. Lukaku shattered all hopes with his double backpack. Plea gave hope again in the final phase, in the end he decided centimeters against the French.