Borussia fall to narrow 2-1 defeat against FC Bayern

Despite a strong performance, Borussia suffered a 2-1 defeat against FC Bayern München on matchday 3 in the Bundesliga.

The Foals were back in action on a Saturday night for the second time within the last week, as they hosted FC Bayern München in front of a sell-out crowd at BORUSSIA-PARK. The visitors enjoyed the bulk of possession in the opening moments, but the Foals were able to keep the record champions from dominating the flow of the game. Borussia were able to create chances of their own as the match progressed, with Marvin Friedrich hitting the crossbar in the 25th minute. Just four minutes later, Ko Itakura headed the hosts in front following a set piece. Moritz Nicolas, on his Bundesliga debut for Borussia, pulled off a fantastic fingertip save to deny Leroy Sané from close range. The Bavarians were then able to equalise in the 58th minute through Sané, with Mathys Tel coming off the bench to net the winning goal in the 87th minute.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Gerardo Seone made two changes to the starting XI for tonight’s primetime clash against Bayern. Moritz Nicolas deputised for the injured Jonas Omlin in goal, with Rocco Reitz replacing Franck Honorat. Borussia began with a back-four of Joe Scally, Marvin Friedrich, Ko Itakura and Max Wöber. Julian Weigl captained the team, lining up alongside Florian Neuhaus and Reitz in midfield. Nathan Ngoumou, Alassane Pléa and Thomáš Čvančara started up front.

The Foals continue to be without long-term absentees Christoph Kramer (rehab after partial MCL tear) and Manu Koné (rehab after knee injury), and were also missing Jonas Omlin (shoulder) and Luca Netz (knock) for Saturday’s clash with Bayern.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

3’: The first chance of the match falls to the visitors. Goretzka gets on the end of a corner from Kimmich, but Nicolas is able to parry his header.

5’: Borussia attack down the right wing via Pléa. The Frenchman is able to pick out Reitz on the edge of the box, but he’s unable to get off a shot.

9′: Wöber has a go from nearly 20 metres out, but his effort goes just wide of the target.

22’: Kane gets into a dangerous position for the first time this evening, but Wöber is able to slide in and block him from getting off a shot.

25’: Borussia go close through Friedrich! The defender gets on the end of a free kick from Pléa, but his header crashes off the crossbar and out.

29’: The Foals take the lead! Pléa’s corner is flicked on by Wöber and falls to Itakura. The Japan international is able to sent a looping header past Ulreich into the far corner to open the scoring.

32’: Another free kick for the Foals. Pléa decides to cut a low cross back to the top of the box, where Weigl is waiting. His shot is pushed off target by Ulreich.

39’: The visitors come close through Sané, as he powers a shot towards Nicolas. The goalkeeper is alert, however, and able to get his fingertips on it enough to push the ball onto the crossbar.

45’+3: Davies tries to beat Nicolas with a low shot, but the goalkeeper is able to get down and stop it.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

54’: Coman has a go from a tight angle, with Nicolas forced to parry his shot. Goretzka is able to get the rebound, but Itakura clears it from on the line.

56’: Müller is unmarked in the box and is able to get off a shot, but it sails just wide of the right post.

58’: Sané levels the score for Bayern. Kimmich picks out the striker with an inch-perfect pass through the defence, as Bayern’s number 10 beats Nicolas to make it 1-1.

70’: Bayern catch Borussia’s backline by surprise with a quickly taken free kick. Laimer picks out Choupo-Moting at the far post, but Nicolas is able to parry his header with a brilliant save.

78’: Kimmich gets on the end of a blocked shot from Gnabry, but his effort just misses the target.

85’: Bayern break down the right wing, with Laimer taking the ball all the way to the goalline before cutting the ball back to send it into the box. Jantschke is on hand to block him from getting off the cross.

87’: Mathys Tel gives Bayern a late lead. The substitute is left unmarked in the box after a corner and heads it past Nicolas to make it 2-1.

90’+2: Another great save from Nicolas to deny Choupo-Moting a free header.

90’ +8: The final roll of the dice for the Foals. Weigl finds Honorat up front, but the striker isn’t able to get the ball on target.

MATCH STATS

Borussia: Nicolas – Scally (83’ Elvedi), Friedrich, Itakura, Wöber (73’ Ullrich) – Reitz, Weigl, Neuhaus – Ngoumou (73’ Jantschke), Čvančara (59’ Jordan), Pléa (83’ Honorat) // Subs: Sippel, Hack, Ranos, Borges Sanches

FC Bayern: Ulreich – Mazraoui (46’ Laimer), Upamecano, Kim, Davies – Kimmich, Goretzka (81’ Tel) – Sané, Müller (69’ Choupo-Moting), Coman (69′ Gnabry) – Kane (90’+5 de Ligt) // Subs: Peretz, Sarr, Krätzig, Pavlović

Goals: 1-0 Itakura (29’), 1-1 Sané (58’), 1-2 Tel (87’)

Yellow cards: Mazraoui, Coman

Spectators: 54,042 (sold out)

Referee: Deniz Aytekin