Borussia Mönchengladbach – RasenBallsport Leipzig: Substitute Werner Scores Decisive Goal To ‘Defend’ Leipzig’s Winning Run (0-1)

In midweek, Leipzig manager Marco Rose called for Timo Werner “…to get down to business…and I'll say it again: he has to defend himself.” And that’s exactly what the club's record goalscorer did, by coming off the bench to score the winning goal against an organized Mönchengladbach.

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Smoothy.

Borussia Mönchengladbach hosted RB Leipzig at Borussia Park in gameweek five of the Bundesliga campaign. The home side were looking for their first win of the season, having gained two points from their opening four games. Leipzig on the other hand were flying high, with three wins on the spin.

It was not only in the points tally where these two sides contrasted, but also in the goals for and against columns. Before kick-off, Mönchengladbach had the second leakiest defense in the league, with twelve goals conceded. The hosts were aware they would need to shore up defensively against the visitors who had scored the second most goals (thirteen) in Germany’s top flight to date.

Mönchengladbach manager Gerardo Seoane made three changes to his starting line-up, with Nico Elvedi, Luca Netz and Manu Koné all coming in. Elvedi, Ko Itakura and Max Wöber played as a back three ahead of Moritz Nicolas. Joe Scally and Netz operated as wing-backs, with Julian Weigl, Rocco Reitz and Koné in midfield, and Franck Honorat and Jordan Siebatcheu upfront. 

Marco Rose made two changes to his side which beat Young Boys in midweek, with Fabio Carvalho and Benjamin Šeško making their first starts for the club. Janis Blaswich was between . . .

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