Borussia beaten 2-1 at home to Augsburg as Lainer returns

Borussia suffered a disappointing defeat at the start of the second round of Bundesliga fixtures, as the Foals lost 2-1 to FC Augsburg. Stefan Lainer meanwhile made his comeback after recovering from cancer.

In the first 45, the spectators at BORUSSIA-PARK saw FC Augsburg come out of the traps quickly, though they didn’t take the chances they created. Instead, it was the Foals who took the lead with only their second opportunity, as Jordan battled well to get on the end of Plea’s cross and scramble the ball in from close range in the 26th minute. Afterwards, Gerardo Seoane side tried to add to their lead, but, just like the guests, were lacking a cutting edge in front of goal.

After the break, Augsburg made the perfect start to the second period and turned the game around in a matter of minutes. Firstly in the 47th minute, Philipp Tietz headed Kevin Mbabu’s cross into the Gladbach net to make it 1-1, before Arne Engels swept a cut-back into the bottom corner four minutes later. The Foals then tried to find an equaliser and began to create more chances. Borussia though could not carve out any more clear-cut opportunities and suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat.

TEAM NEWS

One week on from the 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart, head coach Gerardo Seoane made just one change to his starting eleven as Jordan came in for the suspended Julian Weigl. Once again, a back four of Joe Scally, Marvin Friedrich, Nico Elvedi and Luca Netz featured in front of goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. Rocco Reitz played alongside Manu Koné in central midfield, while Franck Honorat and Robin Hack were the wingers. Alassane Plea started behind Jordan in attack.

Tomáš Čvančara (ankle ligament tear), Jonas Omlin (recovering from a shoulder operation) and Lukas Ullrich (back in training) missed out due to injury. Max Wöber (illness), Ko Itakura (Asian Cup) and Julian Weigl (suspended) were also unavailable. Stefan Lainer was included in a competitive squad for the first time since recovering from cancer.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

12’: What a save by Nicolas! Vargas climbs highest to meet a cross and heads towards the corner. Nicolas though stretches and claws the ball away.

26’: Jordan makes it 1-0! FCA keeper Dahmen misjudges a corner and gifts Plea the opportunity to chip the ball into the six-yard box. Jordan battles to the ball well and scrambles it over the line.

34’: Hack spots Dahmen off his line in his own half and goes for goal. The ball though goes wide.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

47’: Equaliser. Mbabu crosses from the touchline and Tietz wins an aerial duel to head in for 1-1.

51’: Augsburg turn the game around. Demirovic cuts the ball back, where Engels runs on to it and strikes to leave Nicolas with no chance.

71’: Stefan Lainer is back on the pitch! The Borussia right-back makes his comeback for the Foals after recovering from cancer.

82’. So nearly 2-2! Honorat does well and finds the now-advanced Elvedi, whose shot is blocked at the last possible moment.

STATISTICS

Borussia: Nicolas – Scally, Friedrich, Elvedi, Netz (Lainer 71’) – Honorat (Ranos 87’), Reitz (Kramer 46’), Koné (Neuhaus 71’), Hack (Ngoumou 67’) – Plea, Jordan // Unused substitutes: Olschowsky, Chiarodia, Herrmann, Jantschke

Augsburg: Dahmen – Mbabu, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Iago – Rexhbecaj, Engels (Pedersen 73’) – Jensen (Jakic 60’), Demirovic, Vargas (Maier 83’) – Tietz (Beljo 83’) // Unused substitutes: Koubek, Gumny, Pfeiffer, Breithaupt, Kömür

Goals: 1-0 Jordan (26’), 1-1 Tietz (47’), 1-2 Engels (51’)

Yellow cards: Netz – Rexhbecaj, Jakic

Attendance: 44,867

Referee: Martin Petersen (Stuttgart)