Čvančara scores on debut as Foals beat Saarbrücken

Borussia sealed a 2-1 win over 1. FC Saarbrücken in the second friendly of pre-season.

Borussia got off to the perfect start against the 3. Liga side when Tomáš Čvančara headed home from Robin Hack’s free kick (3’). Nathan Ngoumou then increased the Foals’ lead just 8 minutes later when he finished off an excellent solo run (11’). Gladbach continued to press and were denied by some superb saves from the Saarbrücken goalkeeper. Despite their dominant first half performance, Gerardo Seoane’s men had to settle for a 2-0 lead at the break.

The gaffer made nine changes at half time with only Moritz Nicolas and Marvin Friedrich staying on the field from the starting XI. Despite enjoying much of the possession in the second half, the Foals created fewer clear-cut chances. Fabio Chiarodia came on in the 64th minute for his debut. Five minutes before the end of the game, the hosts pulled one back through Kai Brünker. This proved to be the final action and the Foals ran away 2-1 winners.

The players and staff will now travel to Tegernsee for the summer training camp. Borussia will be in action next week against FC Ingolstadt in Rottach-Egern (Wednesday, 26th July, 18:00 CEST).

Line-up

Tomáš Čvančara started in the middle for his Gladbach debut. Nathan Ngoumou, Alassane Plea and Robin Hack formed the formed the front three, with Rocco Reitz and Florian Neuhaus in defensive midfield. Joe Scally and Ko Itakura got their first minutes of the pre-season and they were joined at the back by Marvin Friedrich and Luca Netz. Moritz Nicolas started in goal.

Squad update

Christop Kramer (MCL), Jan Olschowsky (hand), Manu Koné (knee), Hannes Wolf (illness), Stefan Lainer (illness), Nico Elvedi (workload management), Jonas Omlin (workload management) were all unavailable on Saturday.

First half highlights

3′: Borussia take the lead after just 135 seconds! Čvančara heads home from a Hack free-kick to get his Foals career off to the perfect start.

6′: The ball is in the Saarbrücken net once again but it’s ruled out for offside.

11′: Ngoumou increases Gladbach’s lead! And how! The Frenchman receives the ball just inside his own half and beats four men before finding the far corner with an excellent finish.

17′: First chance for the hosts but Civeja can’t keep his effort on goal.

22′: It’s almost three but Plea is denied by Schreiber in the Saarbrücken goal!

29′: Ngoumou crosses from the right to Hack, but his shot is blocked.

30′: Günther-Schmidt’s header is kept out by Nicolas.

39′: Neuhaus receives a yellow card for a tactical foul to stop a counter attack.

40′: Čvančara and Plea combine well but Schreiber makes another good save.

Second half highlights

51′: Nicolas makes a great reflex save to deny Schmidt!

67′: Honorat tries his luck from 20 yards but his effort is well over the top.

71′: Günther-Schmidt capitalises on some sloppy Gladbach build-up play but he is once again denied by Nicolas.

79′: Borges Sanches leaves the field with an injury and is replaced by Reitz who was initially subbed off at half time.

85′: Brünker pulls one back for the hosts with a header!

Statistics

Saarbrücken: Schreiber (46′ Paterok) (GK), Brünker, Beder, Zeitz, Uaferro (46′ Di Michele Sanchez), Gaus – Günther-Schmidt (79′ Breuer), Kerber (66′ Kwadwo), Sontheimer, Civeja – Brünker (86′ Sahin), Schmidt (66′ Neudecker). Unused subs: Recktenwald, Walle

Borussia: Nicolas (GK), Scally (46′ Walde), Friedrich (64′ Chiarodia), Itakura (46′ Jantschke), Netz (46′ Ullrich) – Reitz (46′ Fraulo), Neuhaus (46′ Weigl) – Ngoumou (46′ Herrmann), Plea (46′ Honorat), Hack (46′ Borges Sanches, 79′ Reitz) – Čvančara (46′ Ranos). Unused subs: Neutgens

Goals: 0-1 Čvančara (3′), 0-2 Ngoumou (10′), 1-2 Brünker (85′)

Yelllow cards: Neuhaus

Attendance: 11,000

Referee: Tom Bauer