the fight is on!

By: otto | May 5th, 2009

Borussia Mönchengladbach fight for safety heads to the final four weeks of the Bundesliga calendar after losing 2-1 to Bayern München.

Leading up the match Borussia was likely relishing the opportunity to face the Jürgen Klinsmann-”led” Bayern. However that changed and for Borussia possibly the most difficult of all opposition coaches was hired as a real coach, Jupp Heynckes took charge of the stumbling club. With the longtime Borussia man captaining the ship, the tough challenge took an even darker tone for Hans Meyer’s forces.

Tactically Borussia sat Marko Marin for Tobias Levels with a more defensive approach and utilized Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker for the suspended Alex Baumjohann. Despite a number of openings early the match was without a score until twelve minutes before the break Bastian Schweinsteiger sends in Luca Toni’s cross. The lead did not last long as only five minutes later Michael Bradley’s free-kick rebounded off Bayern goalkeeper Jorg Butt and in the rush for the loose ball Roel Brouwers was upended and a penalty awarded. Filip Daems, now assigned the penalty taking duties brought the match level but only four minute later Bayern scored what turned out to be the winning goal. Lukas Podolski’s perfect long pass to Hamit Altintop set him free in on Logan Bailly, resulting in a quick-fire score. In the final thirty minutes Roberto Colautti, Marco Marin and Oliver Neuville came on as Borussia looked for the leveling goal and despite giving up no ground, they could not find a way through. With Bayern sitting back defending the match ended with a 2-1 loss.

A lot of positives can be said of the performance but unfortunately at this time of the year, needing points, it is difficult to be satisfied despite a good display. Borussia now faces Schalke, Cottbus, Leverkusen and Dortmund in their remaining four weeks to avoid relegation.