Bundesliga
Lars Stindl scored twice as Borussia Mönchengladbach overcame Arminia Bielefeld to record their first Bundesliga win under Adi Hütter.
Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 Arminia Bielefeld
Goals: 1-0 Stindl (35’), 1-1 Okugawa (45’+2) 2-1 Stindl (69’), 3-1 Zakaria (72’)
Gladbach began the evening looking for their first league win of the season. They looked to have found their groove, and got their first goal after 20 minutes when Alassane Plea had put the ball in the net. However, the goal was ruled out for offside; Jonas Hofmann probably should have taken it on himself, rather than opting to pass. The home side were rewarded for their persistence in attack with 10 minutes of the half remaining. Stindl powered the ball towards goal and it took a massive deflection off defender Jacob Barrett Laursen’s heel and looped high over goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who could do nothing to prevent his team going behind in cruel fashion. In added time, Bielefeld snatched the goal their performance probably deserved. Masaya Okugawa stormed free of the defenders, keeping himself just onside - as the VAR review would confirm - and fired straight at Yann Sommer, who could not hold it, giving the midfielder a second chance he couldn’t miss.
Gladbach began the second half with a series of half chances to retake the lead, but they failed to make any of them count. Bielefeld, in turn, threatened to go ahead, notably through Patrick Wimmer, who was twice denied by Sommer in quick succession. With just over 20 minutes remaining, Stindl grabbed a second for Gladbach with an excellent header. Denis Zakaria broke down the right flank and delivered an inch-perfect cross to his captain. Not even three minutes later, Zakaria would write his own name on the scoresheet. The Switzerland international started a counter-attacking move in the middle of the pitch and drove into the penalty box to finish it after collecting a cross from Patrick Herrmann. There were further chances at both ends, but those two quick goals had made the result all but certain.
Watch: Lars Stindl demands Gladbach consistency
Gladbach: Sommer - Beyer, Ginter, Elvedi - Scally, Zakaria (72'), Neuhaus, Netz (Herrmann 58') - Stindl (c) (35', 69') (Embolo 77'), Hofmann (Wolf 46') - Plea
Unused subs: Sippel, Jantschke, Kramer, Benes, Noß, Bennetts
Out: Bensebaini (groin), Doucoure (Achilles' tendon), Kone (match fitness), Lainer (ankle), Thuram (knee)
Coach: Adi Hütter
Bielefeld: Ortega - de Medina, Brunner, Nilsson, Laursen - Schöpf, Wimmer (Lasme 70'), Prietl, Hack - Klos (c) (Serra 77'), Okugawa (45'+2) (Krüger 77')
Unused subs: Kapino, Ramos, Czyborra, Andrade, Kunze
Out: Fernandes (ill), Pieper (unconfirmed), Vasiliadis (ankle)
Coach: Frank Kramer
Watch: Joe Scally - "We knew we'd win"