Saturday, 07.11.2009, 15:30 Uhr
Borussia Mönchengladbach
VfB Stuttgart
| Result |
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0 : 0 (0 : 0) |
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Referee
Attendance
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Günter Perl |
47053 |
| Lineups | |
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30 Logan Bailly 4 Roel Brouwers 11 Marco Reus 14 Thorben Marx 16 Rob Friend 18 Juan Arango 20 Jean-Sebastien Jaures 22 Tobias Levels 26 Michael Bradley 31 Dante 40 Karim Matmour |
1 Jens Lehmann 6 Georg Niedermeier 11 Thomas Hitzlsperger 15 Arthur Boka 16 Sebastian Rudy 17 Matthieu Delpierre 23 Aliaksandr Hleb 25 Elson 27 Stefano Celozzi 29 Pavel Pogrebnyak 32 Zdravko Kuzmanovic |
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| Coach | |
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Michael Frontzeck
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Markus Babbel
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Stalemate in Gladbach
In what turned out to be a very average Bundesliga game, VfB Stuttgart played out a 0-0 draw away to Borussia Monchengladbach, in spite of the home team having a number of very good chances to take the lead. Markus Babbel's men were unlucky too to see their best effort on goal ricochet away off the up-right.
Due to Serdar Tasci's foot injury, VfB trainer Markus Babbel was once again forced to make alterations to his starting eleven. Georg Niedermeier filled in for the German international at the heart of the defence whilst Sebastian Rudy and Stefano Celozzi were both rewarded for their strong performances against FC Sevilla with starting spots ahead of Khalid Boulahrouz and Roberto Hilbert.
First VfB chance falls to Pavel Pogrebnyak
During the first half of the game, VfB were often far too cautious and at times apparently anxious. Gladbach, on the other hand, were the more dangerous of the two teams from the outset - particularly so in the eighth minute. Luckily for VfB, the 'Fohlen' managed to waste three great chances to open the scoring. The first chance for the visitors fell to lone striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, who took on a through ball from Thomas Hitzlsperger but was unable to find the target. Shortly before the half-time break, Aliaksandr Hleb tried his luck with a right footed drive from distance but to no avail. At the other end, Arthur Boka made a last gasp rescuing lunge to prevent his side from going behind as he slid in to block a goal-bound shot and turn the ball back into the arms of Jens Lehmann. As a result, the sides went in at the break with the score-line locked at 0-0.
Lehmann to the rescue
After the re-start, VfB again failed to cause many real problems for the Borussia defence.
But the one true chance to open the scoring by Zdravko Kuzmanovic rocketed away of the inside of the post and it was again becoming apparent that VfB were again to be out of luck. Gladbach, on the other hand, had several fantastic chances to go in front but were to be left frustrated by the own imprecision or an in form Jens Lehmann. In the 48th minute, Reus narrowly failed to connect with a Juan Arango delivery. Two minutes later, Lehmann came twice to Stuttgart's rescue with a double save of the highest quality. Then, in the 73rd minute, Kuzmanovic came to is chance from 17 meters out, which he drove powerfully against the post, and keeper Logan Bailly had no problems covering Schieber's rebounded effort. Seven minutes later the young VfB striker hit the side netting after taking on a pass from Alex Hleb, whilst at the other end, substitute Oliver Neuville was unable to control a pass from Reus and in the end, the all so important clash between VfB and Gladbach finished in a 0-0 draw which doesn't really help either of the two sides.