Borussia Mönchengladbach’s dream of the last 16 in the Champions League has come true despite a discouraged appearance at 0: 2 (0: 2) in the preliminary round final. For the first time in 43 years, Borussia are back in the second round of the European premier class, although coach Marco Rose’s team lost at Real Madrid on Wednesday. With the help of Inter Milan and Schachtjor Donetsk, who played 0-0 at the same time, Gladbach made it into the knockout round for the first time in his third Champions League participation as second in Group B behind Real.
In the previous competition, the European Champions Cup, the five-time German champion had always made it to the round of 16 in the 1970s.
This time, after strong appearances in the preliminary round, luck was there at least in the last group game at the premier class record winner. Due to the draw of the group opponents in Milan, Gladbach remained second behind Real (10) with eight points after six games, despite the defeats in the previous week against Inter (2: 3) and now in Madrid. The goals of the French star striker Karim Benzema (9th minute / 32nd) were just as painful in the end as unusual offensive weaknesses. After 14 competitive games in a row with at least one goal, the eleven from the Niederrhein went empty-handed this time.
Nevertheless, Borussia will be in the round of 16 pots on Monday and can also look forward to further income of 9.5 million euros in addition to the around 32 million euros earned so far. Rose and his players would have liked to have earned this with a courageous appearance at the 13-time “Henkelpott” winner. But the Gladbachers were too nervous for that on Wednesday.
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Before kick-off, Rose wanted to set an example with his line-up. In captain Lars Stindl, Champions League top scorer Alassane Plea, Marcus Thuram and Breel Embolo, all of his offensive power was deployed to set the direction. “That’s what defines us. We want to stay with ourselves, ”said the Borussia coach before the game at DAZN.
In addition, he promised stability for the last defensive defense of starting XI returnees Nico Elvedi. After a ten-day injury break, the Swiss central defender was back in the starting eleven in the preliminary round, but didn’t seem really fit and allowed Rodrygo to cross Rodrygo before Benzema’s second goal. In general, the Gladbachers were too passive and hesitant in crucial situations.
After less than ten minutes, captain Stindl made a serious bad pass in the build-up, which led to the far too easy lead for Real by striker Benzema. “We need top performance. We have to keep Real busy and set tasks, ”said Rose. This did not succeed. Instead, nerves often failed, for example when Plea, who was so accurate in the end, set a free-standing counterattack next to the goal (25th).
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Real, however, with the returned captain Sergio Ramos could not be compared with the team that was recently so badly criticized and had put itself under pressure in the Champions League. This time the record winner of the premier class performed exactly as the 34-time Spanish champion had previously announced. “For us, only the win counts,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane, who should have feared for his job if Real missed the Champions League round of 16 for the first time.
The weakened Gladbach defense, however, came towards him and Real. After half an hour Benzema was again too free to head. The striker did not miss this.
After the change, Rose made another tactical change and brought in Valentino Lazaro and Denis Zakaria for Oscar Wendt and the disappointing Embolo. Gladbach got stronger, but remained unlucky in attack. This did not matter after anxious final minutes and the view of Milan in the end. The victory also spared Real a historical disgrace. Coach Zinedine Zidane’s team threatened to end the preliminary round for the first time in their 25th Champions League participation.
Bayern defeated Lok Moscow 2-0
Thanks to Nikas Süle and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, FC Bayern Munich ended its triumphant Champions League year with a win. In the last group game, the defending champions won 2-0 (0-0) against Lokomotiv Moscow on Wednesday after an increase in performance after the break. With his first goal in the premier class in the 25th game, Süle paved the way for the German record champions (63rd minute), who were already group winners and round of 16. The Choupo-Moting, called up for the slightly battered Robert Lewandowski, made everything clear (80th). The victory brought a further 2.7 million euros in prize money to the defending champion’s club box office.
The Bavarians, who in addition to Lewandowski (slight muscular problems) also did without David Alaba (stress control) against the Russians, are now looking forward to the draw on Monday in Nyon. The round of the best 16 will be played in February and March of the coming year. Before that, the third from last game of the year is in the Bundesliga on Saturday against 1. FC Union Berlin.
Coach Hansi Flick spared some regular players and tested the B line-up. Instead of Lewandowski, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting was allowed to attack again at 1: 1 at Atletico Madrid, as in the previous week. Long-injured Canadian Alphonso Davies made his comeback on the left-hand side of defense, where Alaba last defended.
Nevertheless, Bayern started dominantly as expected against the defensive Russians. In addition to their starting eleven, they only brought five substitutes to Munich, including two goalkeepers.
For almost 20 minutes, both teams had no chance of scoring. Bayern tried it over the wings, but due to a lack of precision on the flanks, this was unsuccessful. FC Bayern tried hard against the many-legged defense of the guests. But the defending champion also lacked the creativity to crack the bulwark.
The Russians meanwhile counted on the counterattack. In one of the counter-attacks in the 35th minute, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had to intervene and use both fists to fend off the ball after Dmitri Rybtschinski had hit the ball. In the 39th minute, the guests reappeared dangerously in front of Bayern’s goal, but François Kamano’s shot caught Leon Goretzka. In return, Thomas Müller only hit the outside netting and missed the best chance to 1-0 up until then.
For Bayern, the compulsory task against the bottom of the group proved to be a tough test of patience. Serge Gnabry came into play for Thomas Müller in the second half. Niklas Süle headed on goal after a corner from the national player, but Marinato Guilherme prevented Bayern from scoring (50th). The goalkeeper was also there for a heel trick by Choupo-Moting (53rd).
With Gnabry, the German record champions increased the pressure. In the 57th he failed with a double chance at Guilherme and then shot just wide. In the 63rd minute, Süle rewarded the hosts’ efforts and headed a corner from Costa to make it 1-0. In the 80th minute, Choupo-Moting ensured success with his goal to make it 2-0. (dpa)
