Bundesliga
Breel Embolo scored for a second game in a row as he captained Borussia Mönchengladbach to a 1-1 draw at home to Hertha Berlin, after Matteo Guendouzi had opened his Bundesliga account for the guests.
Gladbach 1-1 Hertha
Goals: 0-1 Guendouzi (47'), 1-1 Embolo (70')
A much-changed Gladbach side, following their first-ever qualification for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League in midweek, had a few difficulties finding their shape, with Patrick Herrmann their most advanced player ahead of captain for the day Embolo. The first shot of the game therefore arrived unsurprisingly at the other end, after half an hour, with Javairo Dilrosun pulling the ball back for Krzysztof Piatek, but he lifted his shot high and wide of Tobias Sippel's goal, failing to give the Gladbach custodian his first Bundesliga save to make in almost three years. The 32-year-old subsequently got his gloves dirty twice to palm efforts on his goal away, as the guests turned up the heat further in an impressive first half from Hertha.
Bruno Labbadia's men kept up the pressure at the start of the second half and drew first blood inside a matter of minutes. Hertha's on-loan French midfielder Guendouzi had yet to score in the Bundesliga, but his first goal was worth the wait as he curled a right-footed effort into the top right-hand corner of Sippel's goal. Gladbach's response came from two Herrmann efforts, the first of which cleared off the line acrobatically by Dedryck Boyata and the second striking the post from a free-kick. Hertha, however, almost doubled their lead when Dodi Lukebakio's drive was parried well by Sippel. Rose sent for reinforcements with Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea entering the fray and, within minutes, they were level with Embolo converting from close range. It was enough to earn the Foals a point as neither side could muster enough energy to find a winner, with both seeming satisfied to come away with something.
Watch: Guendouzi: "I'm very happy to have scored"
Gladbach: Sippel - Lazaro, Ginter, Elvedi, Wendt (Lainer 65') - Zakaria, Neuhaus (Benes 85') - Traore (Thuram 65'), Wolf (Stindl 85'), Herrmann (Plea 64') – Embolo (c)
Unused subs: Grün, Lang, Kramer, Jantschke
Out: Bensebaini (not included), Hofmann (thigh), Sommer (adductor)
Coach: Marco Rose
Hertha: Schwolow - Pekarik, Boyata (c), Torunarigha, Plattenhardt - Stark, Guendouzi - Lukebakio (Leckie 75'), Darida (Tousart 75'), Dilrosun (Ngankam 75') – Piatek (Redan 85')
Unused subs: Jarstein, Alderete, Mittelstädt, Dardai, Zeefuik
Out: Ascacibar (muscular), Cordoba (ankle), Cunha (suspended), Löwen (thigh)
Coach: Bruno Labbadia
Watch: Sippel on Gladbach's Champions League progress and Bundesliga form