Ten-man Gladbach hold Hertha

Hertha Berlin 2-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 1-0 Ascacibar (23'), 1-1 Plea (27'), 1-2 Stindl (pen. 38'), 2-2 Cordoba (49')

Marcus Thuram had a good early chance to put Gladbach ahead after racing onto Christoph Kramer's through-ball, but he mis-controlled and Marlon Dardai recovered the situation. The Foals went down to 10 men soon after, Switzerland No.1 Sommer given his marching orders after bringing down Jhon Cordoba, who was clean through on goal after a long-ball forward. Tobias Sippel replaced Oscar Wendt, and Sommer's understudy was beaten midway through the half when Santiago Ascacibar curled home his first Bundesliga goal from the edge of the area. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Gladbach got back on level terms minutes later, though. Plea checked his run to stay onside and steered what was just his fourth goal of the campaign beyond the outstretched hand of Alexander Schwolow. To their immense credit, Gladbach then carried a 2-1 lead into the interval, Stindl stroking home a penalty that Thuram had earned.

Hertha coach Pal Dardai rang the changes at the interval, sending Krzysztof Piatek, Marvin Plattenhardt and Nemanja Radonjic on for Dodi Lukebakio, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Deyovaisio Zeefuik, and the capital club drew back onto level terms minutes after the restart, with Cordoba meeting a Plattenhardt cross to force home his seventh goal of the season. Hertha's hearts were in their mouths momentarily with Cordoba possibly offside, but referee Patrick Ittrich allowed the goal to stand after consultation with VAR. Hertha tried to make their possessional dominance tell, but Matheus Cunha fired straight into Sippel's gloves - not for the first time - just past the hour. The Brazilian's end product let him down again at the death, and it ended 2-2.

• Plea scored his fourth goal in 24 league games this season. Last term the Frenchman had a hand in 20 Bundesliga goals at a rate of one every 107 minutes.
• Stindl's penalty was his 12 goals of the campaign. The Gladbach captain has top scored with 14 goals - as well as 13 assists - in all competitions.
• The Foals - who beat Schalke and Freiburg in their last two outings - are yet to win three consecutive games this season.
• Ascacibar's opener was just the second goal of his career. The Argentine defensive midfielder also scored in a 3-1 win for VfB Stuttgart over Dynamo Dresden in Bundesliga 2 back in November 2019.
• The Old Lady's return of 12 points from 15 matchdays in 2021 is only fewer than bottom side Schalke (six) have managed.
• Gladbach's Valentino Lazaro played 57 Bundesliga games for Hertha between 2017 and 2019, and scored against the Foals when they met in September 2018.

Hertha: Schwolow - Klünter, Stark (c), M. Dardai - Zeefuik (Radonjic'), Ascacibar (Khedira 57'), Guendouzi, Mittelstädt (Plattenhardt 46') - Lukebakio (Piatek 46'), Cordoba, Cunha
Subs: Körber, Pekarik, Leckie, Alderete, Torunarigha
Out: Boyata (thigh), Darida (suspended), Jarstein (not included), Löwen (knock), Netz (foot), Tousart (suspended)
Coach: Pal Dardai

Gladbach: Sommer - Ginter, Zakaria, Bensebaini (Herrmann 77') - Lainer, Kramer, Neuhaus, Wendt - Stindl (c) - Plea, Thuram (Embolo 77')
Subs: Sippel, Lang, Wolf, Beyer, Traore, Lazaro, Jantschke
Out: Elvedi (calf), Hofmann (not included)
Coach: Marco Rose