Gladbach get taste of European glory with win over Sevilla
As Borussia Mönchengladbach trounced Sevilla 4-2 in Group D, a generation of supporters discovered a taste of life in the club's glory years. Andre Schubert's in-form side recorded the club's first win in Europe's premier club tournament since beating Liverpool in 1978, and their first win against Spanish opposition at home since 1985 against Real Madrid.
Despite already being eliminated from the Champions League, this adventure will have given the current squad a chance to experience Europe's elite competition. This comprehensive win, which keeps their chances of qualifying for the Europa League alive, was Gladbach's first in four attempts against Sevilla in 2015.
Patrick Herrmann, Martin Stranzl, Alejandro Dominguez and Andre Hahn watched on from the stands, while the game's early pace-setter, Ibrahima Traore, would join them on the injury list, limping off with a hamstring strain after 13 minutes. Sevilla's season has been hit-or-miss with wins over Barcelona and Real Madrid, yet their European ambitions will be decided in the final round of group matches.
However, there was little sense of familiarity -- at least on the part of Sevilla. The two meetings in March -- a 5-3 win for Sevilla on aggregate en route to winning the Europa League -- came when Mönchengladbach were ticking along nicely under previous boss Lucien Favre. This season's 3-0 defeat in Seville was at the height of Gladbach's sharp demise with the Foals conceding three comical penalty kicks at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Frenchman Kevin Gameiro scored one and missed one, and looked to be a persistent nuisance for the Germans with a bright start. The 23-year-old swept the ball past Yann Sommer on 15 minutes, but the ball had gone out of play. Gameiro then turned provider as the Spaniards upped the intensity around the box. He lined up an excellent chance for Yevhen Konoplyanka, but the Ukrainian international was denied by a fine stop from Yann Sommer.
However, Schubert's team rallied and started a rampant spell of pressure that would eventually result in the opening goal. On 22 minutes, Raffael dribbled into the box, picking out Stindl at the back post, but the midfielder's attempted scissor kick was off target. The shots kept coming: Xhaka, stand-in captain, stung the palms of Rico with a 25-yard piledriver before Raffael and Stindl again threatened.
But 28 minutes in, the Foals had the opener with Xhaka's goalbound strike diverted past the Sevilla keeper by Gladbach's top scorer Lars Stindl -- the former Hannover captain's eighth goal of the campaign. Classy midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud saw his speculative volley two minutes later cannon off a Sevilla defender and come back in his direction.
Sevilla would assert their own dominance towards the end of the half, but struggle to create any clear chances. A nicely-worked attack on 40 minutes introduced Vitolo on the right-side of the box, his shot deflected wide. The same, last ditch defending would thwart a chance for Konoplyanka; this time Xhaka doing the work tracking back from midfield.
Gladbach have lost one of 13 games under Schubert since the U-23 boss stepped in to replace Lucien Favre following five straight league defeats. Given the club's diligent sporting director Max Eberl hadn't even contemplated Favre's departure, the swift success under Schubert is certainly impressive. At 19 years of age, Syrian-born Dahoud has been the face of the club's resurgence and strolled around the Borussia-Park field with maturity well beyond his years. A return to the Champions League next season is certainly possible, with fourth and third place in the league reachable.
Sevilla's response post-halftime was improved, yet not exactly rip-roaring. Ever Banega's left-foot curler was simple for Sommer, while Polish defensive-midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak -- scorer in the Europa League final win over Dnipro in May -- headed wide in what was a rare foray into the penalty box.
However, Gladbach would sign off their home return to Champions League-European Cup for the first time in 37 years with a deafening crescendo. US international Fabian Johnson curled home a corker of a second for the Germans before Raffael tucked home a third on 78 minutes -- the Brazilian has seven in all competitions since Schubert's arrival.
Vitolo pulled one back with a neat lob over Sommer on 82 minutes, but Stindl drilled in his second less than a minute later to rule out any possible comeback. Banega's penalty kick in the 91st minute proved to be a consolation as both teams head into matchday six competing for a place in the Europa League. Gladbach have a two-point advantage ahead of their trip to Manchester City, while Sevilla host Juventus, needing a win and results to go their way at the Etihad Stadium.
