In the Bundesliga, the snail race to stay in the league continues: Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Union Berlin drew after a tough fight.
On Sunday (April 28, 2024), neither of the two opponents managed to score a goal in Gladbach’s Borussia Park. The Berliners were the busier team for a long time. Striker Kevin Volland failed twice on the aluminum (25th, 62nd). Gladbach only had good chances in the final phase, but didn’t take advantage of them.
To the live ticker: Gladbach – Union Berlin Arrow right 31st matchday Arrow right
The point doesn’t really help any of the clubs in the table. Gladbach slipped to 13th place with 32 points, directly behind Union Berlin (30). Both teams benefited from 1. FC Köln’s late equalizer in Mainz – as a result, the cushion over Mainz in relegation place is fourth (Gladbach) and two points (Union).
Union coach Bjelica struggles with exploiting opportunities
At the Sportschau microphone, Union coach Nenad Bjelica struggled with his team’s use of chances: “It annoys me that the result isn’t better. I think that my frustration was also visible. But I’m happy with the performance. I think “We controlled the game for 90 minutes.”
Sportschau, April 28, 2024 5:57 p.m
Gladbach coach Gerardo Seoane said: “You could say that you had the feeling that nobody wanted to make a mistake.” The Swiss continued: “The lightness is missing in our game.” What should be highlighted positively is that his team didn’t concede a goal. But: “In a home game we want to offer more forward.”
Borussia has chances, Union only shoots from a distance
The game was characterized by many intense duels early on, which was mainly due to the fact that the “Iron” were virtually on Gladbach’s feet. Berlin was energetic, always there, and won the majority of the duels. But nothing really went forward for Union.
The “Foals” then became stronger in duels and gained advantages in the attacking third, mostly through the wings. The first shot of the game belonged to Alassane Pléa after a lob over Robin Hack’s defense, which Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow parried (8th). Further BMG attempts were unsuccessful, Ko Itakura missed another chance when he volleyed from Hack’s free-kick cross shortly before half-time (45th).
Sportschau, April 28, 2024 6:06 p.m
And Union Berlin hardly had any penalty area scenes against well-organized home teams. The Köpenickers therefore tried from a distance, all five attempts in the first half were long-range shots. Volland took heart, his strong flutter ball from a good 20 meters hit the crossbar – Gladbach’s goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas was already beaten.
Union Berlin’s Volland fails again due to aluminum
The guests from Berlin stuck to this route. In the second round, Nicolas had to tip another shot from Brenden Aaronson over the crossbar from the second row (52′). And shortly afterwards, Lucas Tousart’s long-range attempt whizzed just past the home team’s goal (53′). It wasn’t until the 55th minute that the “Iron” had their first shot on goal inside the box, and Tousart once again tested the strong Nicolas in the Gladbach box.
Nico Elvedi almost gave the Berlin team the lead. Because under pressure he played a back pass towards Nicolas, Volland intercepted it – the nimble Unioner danced past the BMG keeper in the penalty area, but he remained pursued by the aluminum pitch. His shot from a tight angle went off the post and into the goal.
Neither Gladbach nor Berlin manage to score a golden goal
Gladbach only used a few needle pricks in the attack, so Pléa almost broke the visitors’ bulwark after a cross from joker Nathan N’Goumou. However, he didn’t hit the ball properly in the six-yard box (68′).
Union Berlin was overall the busier team in the second half and did a little more for the game. Robin Knoche put a header over it (70′). And substitute András Schäfer should have scored after Tousart’s assist – but his direct shot ended up in the stands (73′).
In the end, Borussia also had another opportunity. Franck Honorat slipped just past the ball (83′), Marvin Friedrich’s header was denied by Rönnow in stoppage time (90’+4).
Gladbach in Bremen, Berlin against Bochum
Borussia Mönchengladbach travels to Werder Bremen on the Weser (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.), Union Berlin plays against VfL Bochum (Sunday, 3:30 p.m.).