Head coach Kasper Hjulmand made two changes to the team that started in the 2-2 draw at FC Copenhagen in the Champions League in midweek. After their red cards against Frankfurt, captain Robert Andrich and Ezequiel Fernández were both absent suspended. Aleix Garcia and Ibrahim Maza started in their place. The latter lined up alongside Eliesse Ben Seghir in attacking midfield, with Malik Tillman dropping back into a holding midfield role next to Garcia.
Against a Borussia side who largely defended very deep, Bayer 04 assumed control of the contest from the start - and Patrik Schick the aerial supremacy in the opposition penalty area. The Czech was teed up after nine minutes from Alejandro Grimaldo's free kick, but could only head at Foals goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas from five metres. The Gladbach attack also announced their arrival after a quarter of an hour. Lucas Vázquez came to the rescue in his own box (18'), before Jens Castrop had a goal disallowed by VAR for offside (23'). The game became more physical until the break, without producing more chances. Both Maza's header (37') and Ben Seghir's shot from a tight angle (45'+1) didn't have enough power on them, while Mark Flekken made a good stop from Joe Scally at the other end (39').
Despite the energetic support from the stands, the two teams continued to largely cancel each other out after the break. Kevin Stöger (57') and Shuto Machino (60') missed half-chances for the Foals, as did the industrious Maza (62') and substitute Ernest Poku (64') for the Werkself. The latter in particular gave a big boost down the right wing and it was from his cross in the 70th minute, initially missed by Schick, that Tillman was standing in the right place to volley in.
Following the opening goal, Bayer 04 gave little away defensively and had some promising moments on the counter. The introduction of fit-again Jonas Hofmann, making his first appearance of the season, was cheered by the fans almost as much as the goal. However, the Black-and-Reds were pegged back in the second minute of stoppage time, when Haris Tabakovic headed in the equaliser from a corner. The Werkself rallied again but had to settle for a draw.
The Werkself travel to FC St. Pauli next Saturday, 27 September, on Bundesliga Matchday 5. Kick-off at the Millerntor is at 15:30 CEST. The trip to Hamburg is followed by the second league phase fixture in the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven at the BayArena on Wednesday 1 October (21:00 CEST). Tickets are available HERE.
Bayer 04: Flekken – Quansah, Badé (Tape 63'), Tapsoba - Vázquez (Poku 63'), Garcia, Tillman, Grimaldo - Maza (Hofmann 83'), Ben Seghir (Echeverri 76') - Schick (Kofane 76')
Mönchengladbach: Nicolas – Diks, Elvedi, Chiarodia (Ranos 86') - Scally, Reitz (Herrmann 86'), Engelhardt, Ullrich - Stöger (Reyna 80'), Castrop (Neuhaus 72') - Machino (Tabakovic 80')
Goals: 1-0 Tillman (70'), 1-1 Tabakovic (90'+2)
Yellow cards: Badé, Quansah, Ben Seghir, Grimaldo / Ullrich, Scally, Elvedi, Diks
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)
Attendance: 30,210 (sellout) at the BayArena
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