Bundesliga
Borussia Mönchengladbach claimed a convincing 4-1 victory against Holstein Kiel at Borussia-Park, with Franck Honorat providing two assists in a stellar performance.
Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1 Holstein Kiel
Goals: 1-0 Kleindienst 1’ (assist: Honorat), 2-0 Hack 26’ (assist: Elvedi), 2-1 Gigović 30’ (assist: Porath), 3-1 Pléa 43’ (assist: Honorat), 4-1 Pléa 79’ (assist: Reitz)
Gladbach entered the match looking to extend their impressive home form, having collected 13 points from their last five games at Borussia-Park. The Foals were without the suspended Julian Weigl, with Philipp Sander stepping into the midfield against his former club. Kiel, meanwhile, were hoping to bounce back from four consecutive defeats, with head coach Marcel Rapp emphasising the need for quick passing and intelligent movement to challenge the hosts.
The match burst into life immediately as Tim Kleindienst headed home a cross from Franck Honorat after just 37 seconds, sending Borussia-Park into raptures. Gladbach continued to dominate, with Kleindienst narrowly missing another headed opportunity in the 19th minute. The hosts doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Robin Hack cleverly chipped the ball over Timon Weiner after a defensive mix-up. However, Kiel responded four minutes later with a stunning long-range strike from Armin Gigović, briefly rekindling their hopes.
Gladbach reasserted their control just before half-time when Alassane Pléa headed in another Honorat cross, making it 3-1. The second half saw Gladbach maintain their grip on the game, with Kiel struggling to create clear-cut chances. The visitors made changes, bringing on Alexander Bernhardsson and Benedikt Pichler at half-time, followed by Shuto Machino in the 62nd minute, but failed to turn the tide. Gladbach's Joe Scally received the first yellow card of the game in the 69th minute, followed by Kiel's Nicolai Remberg in the 77th. Pléa put the result beyond doubt in the 79th minute, finishing off a slick team move to complete his brace and seal a 4-1 victory.
Honorat delivered a masterclass performance, registering two assists for the first time in a Bundesliga match. The French winger was a constant threat down the right flank, setting up Kleindienst's opener with a pinpoint cross and later providing the assist for Pléa's first goal. Honorat's speed and creativity were pivotal in Gladbach's attacking play, as he consistently troubled Kiel's defence and created numerous chances for his teammates. His maximum speed of 34.23 km/h was the highest in the match, showcasing his athletic prowess alongside his technical skills.
For Kiel, this defeat marked the first time they had conceded four goals in an away match this season. Despite Gigović's impressive strike, the visitors struggled to contain Gladbach's attacking threat throughout the game. The loss extends the promoted side's winless run to five matches, leaving them in a precarious position in the league table.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Borussia Mönchengladbach 2.42 - Holstein Kiel 0.71
Fastest player: Franck Honorat (Gladbach), 34.23 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-1 by Armin Gigović (Kiel), 2 percent
Most pressed player: Alassane Pléa (Gladbach), 22 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Robin Hack (Gladbach), +3.66
Fantasy Heroes: Franck Honorat (Gladbach, 366 Points), Alassane Pléa (Gladbach, 329 Points), Nico Elvedi (Gladbach, 255 Points)