Bundesliga
Borussia Mönchengladbach led Wolfsburg twice following a couple of Marcus Thuram goals but the home side were worthy of a point with Yannick Gerhardt and Omar Marmoush on target in a highly entertaining 2-2 draw.
Wolfsburg 2-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 0-1 Thuram 13' (assist: Plea'), 1-1 Gerhardt 43' (assist: Otavio), 1-2 Thuram 48', 2-2 Marmoush 69' (assist: Otavio)
The Foals visited the Volkswagen Arena champing at the bit to kick on from last week's 5-2 Rhine Derby success against rivals Cologne. Indeed, it didn't take Gladbach long to make the breakthrough here, with Wolfsburg's defenders playing a big role in their own downfall. Collecting Alassane Plea's pass on the left, Thuram curved his run inwards towards goal and, meeting no resistance along the way, the French forward gleefully pummelled the ball high into the net to the delight of the visiting fans. The Wolves gathered themselves and went close to levelling when Lukas Nmecha burst through on the right before dragging a shot wide of the far post. Niko Kovac's men picked up seven points from their previous four games and they were determined to keep that positive run going. Jakub Kaminski - who earlier spurned a good chance to level when sliding to meet Patrick Wimmer's centre - freed Paulo Otavio on the left. The Brazilian's cut back for Gerhardt was deadly accurate, meaning the midfielder was left with a straightforward finish for 1-1.
Chasing the fifth win of what has been a largely impressive campaign, Gladbach were aware that victory here promised the reward of a provisional place in the division's top three. It was a prospect that inspired Die Fohlen to edge ahead. When Jonas Hofmann's corner was met by Thuram's downward header, Otavio blocked the ball, but only straight back to Gladbach's opening goalscorer. A subsequent swing and smash at goal by Borussia's No. 10 and the visitors were back in front. Wolfsburg needed a spark from somewhere. Substitute Omar Marmoush provided it in sublime style. Otavio's pass into the area didn't appear all that threatening, until Marmoush stretched out a foot to bring the ball into his body, controlled on his chest and then spun before connecting with a volley that flew into the corner. The final outcome uncertain to the last, Gladbach went close with a Ramy Bensebaini free-kick that Koen Casteels parried out. Kevin Paredes fired wide at the other end, where Marmoush also clipped the crossbar. After that frenetic ending, both sides left happy with a point apiece.
Wolfsburg: Casteels - Baku, Lacroix (Guilavogui 89'), Van de Ven, Otavio - Svanberg (F. Nmecha 59'), Arnold (c), Gerhardt - Wimmer (Paredes 73'), L. Nmecha (Marmoush 59'), Kaminski (Wind 89')
Unused subs: Pervan, Bornauw, Fischer, Waldschmidt
Out: Franjic (ill), Kruse (not considered), Roussillon (Achilles)
Coach: Niko Kovac
Gladbach: Sommer – Scally, Friedrich, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Weigl, Stindl (c) (Herrmann 89'), Kone – Hofmann, Thuram, Plea (Ngoumou 77')
Unused subs: Sippel, Netz, Jantschke, Lainer, Reitz, Noß, Sanches
Out: Itakura (knee), Kramer (ankle), Neuhaus (knee), Wolf (shoulder)
Coach: Daniel Farke