SV Werder lost 2-0 in their home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach and are still waiting for their first win of the season. The visitors were clinical in their finishing in the first half, with Lars Stindl (27’) and ex-Green-White Jannik Vestergaard (34’) getting on the scoresheet. After the break, Werder went for broke but could not find their way back into the game.
Line-up and formation: Werder head coach Alexander Nouri made three changes from the Nordderby two weeks ago. Fully-fit Zlatko Junuzovic started whilst Lamine Sané returned to the centre of the defence. Meanwhile, Ludwig Augustinsson was preferred at left wing-back. In their place, Florian Kainz and Ulisses Garcia were both on the bench whilst Theo Gebre Selassie missed out with injury. Nouri stayed with the 3-5-2 formation.
11th minute: After a hectic start with possession changing hands constantly, SVW have a free-kick in a good position but Zlatko Junuzovic’s shot hits the wall.
21st minute: First good chance for the Green-Whites. Thomas Delaney gets his header on target from a corner but Yann Sommer is equal to it in the Gladbach goal. Gladbach are dominating possession.
27th minute: Goal for Mönchengladbach. Lars Stindl puts the visitors into the lead. He starts the move by playing in Thorgan Hazard. Jiri Pavlenka saves Hazard’s shot with his foot but Stindl gets to the rebound ahead of Robert Bauer and from a tight angle, the German international leaves Pavlenka no chance with a shot into the far corner. It is a deserved lead.
34th minute: A second for Mönchengladbach. The corner comes in from Oscar Wendt and ex-Green-White Jannik Vestergaard rises high to head the ball into the far corner, with Pavlenka again left in no-man’s land.
35th minute: Philipp Bargfrede sets off on a solo run and shoots from just outside the box. Sommer saves the shot, but it is a sign of life after the quick one-two sucker punch.
44th minute: Huge chance for a goal before the break. A free-kick is headed across by Niklas Moisander at the far post and it falls to Thomas Delaney but he fires it just over the bar.
45th minute: Half-time at the Weserstadion. The away team are ahead after making the most of their chances whilst Werder’s attacks have lacked the penetrating power.
46th minute: Double change for SVW with Izet Hajrovic and Florian Kainz replacing Milos Veljkovic and Philipp Bargfrede. Nouri changes to a 4-4-2 system.
56th minute: Junuzovic, Belfodil and Kainz lead a counter-attack but the latter’s shot from 18 yards is saved.
62nd minute: Next to have a go is Junuzovic with a long-range effort which sails just wide.
67th minute: Pavlenka keeps Werder in the game. Thorgan Hazard gets the better of Bauer in the penalty area but Pavlenka keeps the shot out with his left foot. Gladbach have got more space now with SVW pushing more men forward.
80th minute: Werder make their final change with Johannes Eggestein on for Augustinsson.
84th minute: Lars Stindl has a free header from inside the area but it strikes the post.
91st minute: Eggestein with a great shot on the turn but Sommer is equal to it once again.
92nd minute: Full-time. Werder lose 2-0 to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Summary: The Green-Whites showed great fight after the break and created a number of chances. They lacked the cool head in front of goal yet again however. Gladbach’s clinical finishing decided the game. Next Sunday, SV Werder have an away trip to 1. FC Köln, with kick-off at 13:30 CEST.
