bundesliga

Timo Werner strikes late as RB Leipzig beat Borussia Mönchengladbach

24.09.2023

Timo Werner came off the bench to get the only goal of the game as RB Leipzig beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 on Saturday.

Borussia Mönchengladbach 0-1 RB Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Werner 75'

Gladbach went three goals down before recovering a 3-3 draw with Darmstadt last Sunday, but they started much brighter at home to Leipzig, with Rocco Reitz pulling the strings in midfield. He saw a shot from the edge of the box deflect wide before Maximilian Wöber headed the resulting corner over the bar. Reitz was proving a handful, and he earned a free-kick that Julian Weigl sent wide, via a Leipzig body in the wall. Another free-kick earned by Reitz was sent well off-target by the returning Nico Elvedi and it wasn't until the end of the half that the visitors had their first meaningful chance. Xavi Simons was brought down at full pelt on the edge of the box, but Benjamin Henrichs blasted the resulting set piece into the wall. Fabio Carvalho then forced a fine save from Moritz Nicolas and it was goalless at the break.

Xavi slipped Loïs Openda through for a chance at the start of the second half, but Nicolas got down well to save the Frenchman's effort. Xaver Schlager then aimed a cross for Benjamin Šeško, but there was just too much on it for the Slovenian to connect. Reitz, who signed a new contract this week, was inches away from celebrating that with a goal at the other end, but his header from Franck Honorat's cross was tipped over by Janis Blaswich. Marco Rose sent Werner, Yussuf Poulsen and Christoph Baumgartner into the fray late on and the changes worked, with Glabach not sure who should pick up which attacker. Xavi slipped Werner through for a chance and the Germany striker converted with aplomb from a tight angle.

Match stats

Werner scored his first goal in nine games. It was also his 10th in 11 meetings with Gladbach - his favourite Bundesliga opponents.
Xavi now boasts eight goal-involvements from just five Bundesliga games since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
Gladbach had won their previous three home meetings with Leipzig. The Saxony side's last win here was back in August 2019.
Nicolas, despite his three saves, was denied his first clean sheet since replacing the injured Jonas Omlin in goal for Gladbach.
His opposite number Blaswich was on the Foals' books between 2016 and 2017 without making a first-team appearance.
Reitz had four shots on goal against Leipzig, He scored three times in two season on loan at Sint-Truiden in Belgium, but is yet to open his Bundesliga account.
Gladbach had 13 shots at goal to Leipzig's eight.

Teams

Gladbach: Nicolas - Elvedi, Itakura, Wöber - Scally (Neuhaus 80'), Reitz (Kramer 79'), Weigl (c), Koné (Hack 79'), Netz - Honorat (Ngoumou 64'), Jordan (Pléa 64')
Unused subs: Sippel, Jantschke, Friedrich, Herrmann,
Out: Čvančara (foot), Lainer (illness), Omlin (shoulder)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane

Leipzig: Blaswich - Henrichs, Simakan, Catsello, Raum - Xavi (Seiwald 84'), Schlager (Klostermann 84'), Kampl (c), Carvalho (Baumgartner 70') - Openda (Poulsen 69'), Šeško (Werner 70')
Unused subs: Gulácsi, Lenz, Moriba, Forsberg
Out: Bitshiabu (knee), Haïdara (calf), Klostermann (ill), Olmo (knee), Orbán (knee)
Coach: Marco Rose