Mönchengladbach (dpa) – Borussia Mönchengladbach is practically the new European Cup qualification after the first competitive win against 1. FC Union Berlin.
On Pentecost Sunday, the team of coach Marco Rose deservedly won 4-1 (2-0) against the promoted team and advanced to third place for at least one night. Again strong Florian Neuhaus succeeded in the 17th minute of the 3000th Bundesliga goal of Borussia. This brand had previously only cracked Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen.
«Of course that’s a nice number. But I’m more happy about the victory in the fight for the Champions League, »said Neuhaus anniversary scorer. «This is an expression of our quality and the services we have shown so far. We have now got stuck up there, »said Gladbach’s head of sport Max Eberl after the win, the double goal scorer Marcus Thuram (41./59.) And Alassane Plea (81.) deservedly shot out even in the height.
The Köpenicker are now ten defeats with Eintracht Frankfurt the weakest away team in the league. “The first half was fearful, we had a lot of mistakes, we almost invited Gladbach,” said coach Urs Fischer. “If we make so many mistakes, it will be difficult to win a game in the end.” Sebastian Andersson had scored in the meantime 1: 2 (49th). After the sixth game without a win at the end of the season, the Berliners are in danger of being relegated again. Union slipped into 13th place for the first time since matchday 10; as tables-14. Berliners are only four points ahead of relegation rank.
Gladbach, on the other hand, is now 14 points ahead of seventh in six games remaining. However, especially for the ambitious Rose, the renewed participation “only” in the Europa League should be almost disappointing given the season so far. On 22 of 29 match days, the Elf from the Lower Rhine was in one of the first four ranks, eight times it was even the leader. For the third participation in the premier class, however, the Gladbachers have to fight, even though they already have more points (56) than in the last Champions League qualification four years ago (55). Bayer Leverkusen is tied behind Borussia and RB Leipzig can pass at least one point at 1. FC Köln on Monday.
With two games without a win, Borussia had put itself under pressure. Rose put on a correspondingly offensive on Sunday: The Borussia coach sent five attackers onto the field. Against the aggressive and early attacking guests, the clearly stronger Borussia were dominant. Often the luckless Patrick Herrmann lacked the final consequence. A nice individual campaign by Neuhaus finally led to the deserved tour. Further attacks remained unused before Thuram raised after Plea had nicely prepared. The Frenchman cheered on his goal with his head bowed.
Union coach Fischer switched from three to four at half-time, took the yellow-red endangered Neven Subotic from the field and brought in the more offensive Felix Kroos. After a standard situation poorly defended by the Gladbachers, hope prompted again. Andersson headed free after a free kick in front of Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer for his twelfth goal of the season. Ten minutes later, Plea once again served Thuram, who dusted off for his tenth goal of the season and presented the balance of power on the pitch again even after goals. The fourth goal came in the final phase of Plea, which now also has ten goals of the season.
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