Borussia fall to a heavy defeat in Stuttgart

On Saturday afternoon, the Foals lost 4-0 to second-place side VfB Stuttgart in their final outing of the 2023/24 season, which saw them avoid relegation by a fine margin and finish the campaign in 14th place.

The action started from the offset at the sold-out MHP Arena as Stuttgart took the lead through a brace from Serhou Guirassy in the first half an hour, despite Gladbach’s conviction going forward in the opening stages. Regardless of the deficit, Borussia came out the blocks firing in the second half and created two clear-cut chances in quick succession just after the break, but both Alassane Plea and Julian Weigl’s efforts were denied by the VfL keeper. Stuttgart stepped up the plate and siezed control of the game thereafter, with Wooyeong Jeong and Silas adding another two to the tally and putting the game to bed for the hosts.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Gerardo Seoane opted to make four changes to his starting XI from matchday 33’s 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. Stefan Lainer, Luca Netz, Nathan Ngoumou and Jordan returned to the line-up, which saw Nico Elvedi and Joe Scally start on the bench alongside Franck Honorat and Robin Hack, who are both injured. With Jonas Omlin between the sticks, Lainer, Nico Elvedi, Ko Itakura and Netz made up Borussia’s back four, in front of which sat Julian Weigl, Rocco Reitz and Manu Koné in the midfield. Ngoumou, Alassane Plea and Jordan occupied Gladbach’s attack for the clash against Stuttgart.

Franck Honorat (calf strain), Robin Hack (plantar fasciitis), Max Wöber (load management), Tony Jantschke (muscle problems), Christoph Kramer (back in training), Grant-Leon Ranos (foot injury) and Simon Walde (high ankle sprain) were all unavailable for the Foals on Saturday afternoon.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

5’: Ngoumou drives into the penalty area and lets fly, but his effort is blocked by Ito.

11’: VfB win back possession and counter attack. Führich plays in Mittelstädt, who pulls the trigger from close range, but Omlin gets low quickly and clears the danger with his foot.

21’: Undav advances into the box from the left and picks out the far corner, but the Gladbach keeper reacts well again and sends the ball just shy of the right post with his fingertip to deny the hosts their opener.

23’: Millot chips the ball into Guirassy, who is waiting by the post to nod home VfB’s first from close range.

31’: It’s Guirassy again. The forward is standing side on and turns with the ball to face the Gladbach net, before powering a left-footed strike off the inside of the post into the bottom right corner.

35’: Karazor tees up Leweling, who has a go from 13 metres out, but his effort ricochets off the crossbar and Gladbach are able to clear the danger.

40’: The Foals have a huge chance to reduce the deficit. Ngoumou takes it round Mittelstädt and attempts to find Plea in the middle, but Borussia’s number 14 narrowly misses the ball. Koné is able to keep it in play and puts it on a plate for Weigl, who takes aim from close range, but is denied by Nübel. The rebound falls kindly to Ngoumou, who is able to pull the trigger, but Stuttgart work together to clear the ball and preserve their advantage.

43’: Guirassy fires the ball towards the Borussia net from a tight angle, but his effort strikes the crossbar.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

49’: Jordan and Plea combine well and deliver the ball into Weigl, who tries his luck from 30 metres out, but Nübel catches it with ease.

73’: Jeong drives inside from the left wing and spots an opening at the near corner, but his shot hits the side netting.

75’: Silas drives a low cross from the right into the Gladbach area, which Guirassy is unable to reach, but Jeong is unmarked at the back post and finds the back of the net for Stuttgart – 3-0.

83’: Silas hurtles into Borussia’s box and beats two defenders with a clean stepover before striking home VfB’s fourth of the afternoon.

90+1’: Mittelstädt powers a left-footed effort towards the target from 20 metres out, but he’s denied by the woodwork.

STATISTICS

Goals: 1-0 Guirassy (23’), 2-0 Guirassy (31’), 3-0 Jeong (75’), 4-0 Silas (83’)

Yellow cards: Undav/ Friedrich, Herrmann

Attendance: 60,058 (MHP Arena, sold-out)

Referee: Daniel Schlager (Hügelsheim)