It was a four-goal thriller befitting of the encapsulating title race that both RB Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach are embroiled in this season. Both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils in the 2-2 draw, but while Leipzig’s failure to win saw Bayern claim top spot, Gladbach’s performance was robbed of a fitting narrative.
Keen to avoid the same fate as in their 3-0 loss to Leipzig on Matchday 3, Marco Rose tweaked his tactics to nullify the threat their hosts could pose with Denis Zakaria dropping into the heart of a three-man backline. Despite only filling that role one previously this season against Borussia Dortmund, it was a stroke of genius from Rose as the Swiss international took Timo Werner out of the game as parting a stunning first 45 minutes for Gladbach.
The opening goal was case in point. Marcus Thuram steamed down the right wing, danced past Dayot Upamecano before sparking a neck-snapping sequence of passes that culminated in Oscar Wendt teeing up Alassane Plea to break the deadlock.
It was a passage of first-rate one-touch football that made spectators of their Leipzig’s remaining defenders and would have been the envy of Rose’s counterpart Julian Nagelsmann.
The fact Gladbach had thrown Leipzig off their game was underlined by the success they were having with a courageous high press that forced countless sloppy passes out of a normally razor-sharp side. One such pass from Lukas Klostermann presented Florian Neuhaus with the chance to produce a perfectly placed first-time ball to Jonas Hofmann, who dropped the shoulder before slotting past Gulacsi.
“Above all I want to say how poud I am of my guys for the performance they put in from start to finish – the first half performance was very, very good,” said Rose after the game. Swaggering, clinical Gladbach were worthy of their lead having made Leipzig look uncharacteristically vulnerable. That was still the case even when a freak mishap involving Yann Sommer and Zakaria gifted half-time substitute Patrick Schick a goal to halve the deficit.
Yann Sommer did his best to keep Gladbach in front, but couldn’t stop Nkunku’s effort.
Game-changing decisions
Unfortunately the narrative for Saturday’s showdown is not predicated by Rose’s incredible learning curve against Leipzig and the tactical master class it produced against the Bundesliga leaders. Instead, it revolves around the 61st minute.
Alassane Plea, displeased about having not received a free kick after a heavy challenge from Marcel Sabitzer, received two yellow cards for dissent in such quick succession that referee Tobias Stieler could have been mistaken for a blackjack dealer.
“There’s not much to discuss,” referee Stieler told Sky after the game. “The player wanted a free-kick, he didn’t get it. Then he was waving wildly. He got a yellow card which he didn’t accept as he continued to make inappropriate gestures that showed no respect, so he received a second yellow.”
Steieler admitted the second off was “a result of the stricter rules” that came into effect in the winter break and stood by his decision on the grounds that “the behavior was unacceptable and has no role model function for football.”
With the complexion of the game changed, Leipzig pushed to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Ultimately it took a bullet from outside the box by Christoper Nkunku to beat Sommer a second time, which stands as testament to Gladbach’s resilient display in adverse circumstances.
“What should I say [about the sending off]?,” said Rose when asked for his opinion after the game. “I’d rather say absolutely nothing to the situation. I think everyone will have their opinions and their thoughts on what happened. With 10-men it was very difficult. We executed our game plan, we played exceptionally, but we’re only going home with a point. It’s a tough one to swallow.”
Rose’s feelings will be shared by the Gladbach fans, who will rue the blemish on a breath-taking performance. The fixture had been billed in part as a meeting of tactical grand masters, and the main takeaway is that until the course of the game was so decisively altered by Plea’s departure, it was Rose who had held Nagelsmann in check.
Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/bundesliga-tobias-stieler-spoils-marco-rose-s-master-class-in-leipzig/a-52229329?maca=en-rss-en-sports-1027-xml-atom