bundesliga

Gladbach extend home winning streak with commanding victory over St. Pauli

24.11.2024

Borussia Mönchengladbach secured their fourth straight home victory with a 2-0 win against St. Pauli. A strong display from the Foals has propelled them to sixth in the Bundesliga table.

Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 St. Pauli
Goals: 1-0 Pléa 13’ (assist: Friedrich), 2-0 Kleindienst 44’ (assist: Hack)

Gladbach welcomed St. Pauli to Borussia-Park for a special Bundesliga encounter dedicated to supporting children's rights. The Foals, sporting a unique light green kit for the occasion, were eager to build on their recent good form. The Boys in Brown, meanwhile, were looking to bounce back from recent setbacks and climb out of the relegation play-off spot.

Alassane Pléa turned the ball in off his knee to open the scoring, marking his 50th Bundesliga strike. - IMAGO/RHR-FOTO

Pléa and Kleindienst put Gladbach in control

The home side started brightly, and their early pressure paid off in the 13th minute. Alassane Pléa found the back of the net, nodding home from close range after Marvin Friedrich's header fell kindly to him. The goal marked Pléa's 50th in the Bundesliga, a significant milestone for the French forward. Gladbach's momentum was briefly interrupted in the 21st minute when Joe Scally had to be substituted due to a head injury, with Stefan Lainer taking his place. The Foals continued to dominate, and their superiority was further rewarded just before half-time. In the 44th minute, Tim Kleindienst showcased his clinical finishing, delicately chipping the ball over Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj to double the Foals' lead.

Alassane Pléa was a constant attacking threat, and set his side on course for victory. - IMAGO/Stefan Brauer / Brauer-Fotoagent

St. Pauli fight back, but Gladbach stand firm

The second half saw a resurgent St. Pauli side emerge from the tunnel. The visitors showed more attacking intent and began to create chances of their own. Gladbach's resolve was tested early in the second half, with Lukas Ullrich receiving a yellow card in the 54th minute for a foul on Oladapo Afolayan. As the half progressed, both teams made strategic substitutions. Gerardo Seoane brought on Kevin Stöger, Florian Neuhaus, and Fabio Chiarodia in the 66th minute, while Alexander Blessin introduced Erik Ahlstrand two minutes later. In the 75th minute, Morgan Guilavogui came agonisingly close to pulling one back for the visitors, his header clipping the crossbar with Gladbach keeper Moritz Nicolas beaten. Despite the increased pressure, Gladbach's defence held firm, with Friedrich putting in a particularly impressive performance, winning 11 challenges throughout the match. The Foals' resilience ensured they maintained their two-goal advantage and secured a crucial clean sheet.

Going aerial: Tim Kleindienst added a second for Gladbach with a clever chip over Nikola Vasilj. - Lars Baron

Player of the Match: Tim Kleindienst

Kleindienst proved to be the standout performer in Gladbach's victory. His expertly taken chip just before half-time not only doubled his team's lead but also showcased his clinical finishing ability. Kleindienst's goal was particularly impressive given its challenging nature, highlighting his skill in converting difficult chances. Beyond his goal, the striker's link-up play and movement caused constant problems for the St. Pauli defence, making him a deserving recipient of the Player of the Match accolade.

No way through: A solid defensive performance was as important to the Gladbach victory as the two first-half goals. - IMAGO/Norbert Jansen / fohlenfoto

Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Borussia Mönchengladbach 2.45 - St. Pauli 1.19
Fastest player: Franck Honorat (Gladbach), 34.55 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-0 by Tim Kleindienst (Gladbach), 29 percent
Most pressed player: Oladapo Afolayan (St. Pauli), 22 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Franck Honorat (Gladbach), +5.84