Andrich and Schick score: Werkself win 2-1 at Gladbach

Head coach Gerardo Seoane made one change after the 2-2 draw against Union Berlin: Karim Bellarabi started in place of Paulinho, who was missing on Saturday along with his teammate Niklas Lomb due to a positive Covid-19 test. The Werkself coach also had to manage without Odilon Kossounou, Edmond Tapsoba (both at Africa Cup of Nations) and Daley Sinkgraven (muscle injury).

compact foals – Hradecky denies Neuhaus

The Black and Reds were on the front foot from the start but had problems posing a real threat to the goal of Borussia keeper Yann Sommer. In the opening stages there were only two half chances from Robert Andrich (7’/12’) for Bayer 04 with the Foals remaining compact and closing down space in their own half. At the other end, the hosts again and again posed a threat up front – as on 16 minutes: After a solo run by Breel Embolo, who was stopped at the last moment by Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie, the ball ended up with Florian Neuhaus. The midfielder broke into the penalty area and tried to find the far corner with his shot but Lukas Hradecky was alert and able to save with his right hand.

The first chance for Leverkusen fell to Moussa Diaby: Florian Wirtz picked out his teammate with a through ball but Sommer raced out of his net to clear the threat from the Frenchman who was also an offside position. In the rest of the game, the Werkself posed problems for the Gladbach defence particularly through Bellarabi and Jeremie Frimpong with their excellent pace. However, there was a lack of precision and incision in the final third.

eventful second half – Andrich and Schick score

That all changed in the second half: Bellarabi was brought down in the penalty area by Marvin Friedrich and referee Sascha Stegemann pointed to the spot. Patrik Schick took it but Sommer saved at the expense of a corner. That proved to be costly for the hosts: Wirtz took the corner and Andrich broke through to the six-yard box to guide the ball into the net – 1-0 (51'). And the Black and Reds looked to increase their lead: Schick first beat Nico Elvedi in the penalty area and then shot from a tight angle. Sommer was alert and punched the ball away (63').

The Werkself were now the livelier team and made use of the space available. Bellarabi just missed the target on 72 minutes and two minutes later the man who missed the penalty made amends: From a Demirbay free kick from the left, Schick headed the ball past Sommer into the back of the net – the lead extended (74')..

Elvedi nets consolation – Demirbay fails to beat Sommer

The closing stages became exciting for several minutes when Borussia defender Elvedi scored following a corner (81'). The Seoane team did manage to hold on to the lead to the end. Demirbay missed another penalty for Bayer 04 on 87 minutes – Sommer again went the right way but that was not enough to prevent victory. The Black and Reds won their first away game of the year 2-1 against the Foals and now move up to third in the table. Schick and Co. are back in action next Saturday, 22 January with a home game against FC Augsburg. The match at the BayArena kicks off at 15.30 CET.

Match stats:

Borussia Mönchengladbach: Sommer – Jantschke (Beyer 70'), Elvedi, Friedrich – Lainer (Herrmann 79'), Bénes (Thuram 61'), Koné, Netz (Scally 61') – Neuhaus, Stindl (Plea 79') – Embolo

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Frimpong (Fosu-Mensah 56'), Tah, Hincapie, Bakker – Andrich, Demirbay – Bellarabi (Adli 82'), Wirtz (Amiri 89'), Diaby (Retsos 89') – Schick

Goals: 0-1 Andrich (51’), 0-2 Schick (74’), 1-2 Elvedi (81’)

Special incidents: Schick (50’) and Demirbay (87’) miss penalties

Booked: Stindl, Beyer – Tah, Bakker, Demirbay

Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Niederkassel)

Attendance: 750 (sold out)