Borussia Monchengladbach 2-2 Chelsea
Chelsea came back from a two goal deficit to snatch a draw with Monchengladbach at thanks to two second half penalties.
But it was no more than the Blues deserved after dominating before and after Alassane Plea and Jonas Hofmann had given Die Fohlen an unlikely lead.
This Club Friendly: Monchengladbach vs Chelsea was an ideal opportunity for both head coaches to run the rule over their teams. Marco Rose will be delighted by the form of his keeper Yann Sommer, but a little concerned by how his team was dominated on home turf by Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.
The pre-match Monchengladbach vs Chelsea betting odds pointed to a close encounter and we certainly got that, with a nail-biting finish.
Highlights of the game
With injuries to Skipper Lars Stindl and striker Breel Embolo Rose had the opportunity to look at one or two squad players and new faces, and one in particular caught the eye in the early stages.
Die Fohlen have signed 21 year old striker Marcus Thuram from Guingamp, and he was in on the action early on, sending one shot narrowly wide of the left hand post and then another whistling past the right post. But the home fans didn’t have to wait long for a goal and it was a beauty. Hofmann found Plea in space outside the penalty area and the French forward rifled a low shot into the bottom left corner, giving Kepa little chance in the Chelsea goal.
Mason Mount was on loan with Lampard at Derby, and he should feature in Chelsea’s Premier League plans if he continues to play as he has in pre-season. And he launched a rapid counter attack which Pedro almost rounded off, narrowly missing with his effort. Then new signing Christian Pulisic forced a save from Die Fohlen stopper Yann Sommer.
Sommer was stretched by a long range effort from Cesar Azpilcueta after good work from Mateo Kovacic, but he saved brilliantly in the top left corner, and Mount then crossed for Pulisic but his header flew just wide. And on 39 minutes the Blues were punished for their blunt edge when Plea fed Hofmann and he showed them how to score, finishing coolly from the centre of the penalty area.
Chelsea had dominated for long periods but went in two down at the break. And they came out all guns blazing in the second period. Kovacic got on the end of a cross but Sommer saved his close range effort, Andrea Christensen headed over a Mount corner and then Tammy Abraham fluffed a close range effort.
As the Blues piled on the pressure Sommer made a smart low save to deny Mount, and then Pulisic fed Pedro but again the Monchengladbach stopper was in the way. Abraham got on the end of a Kurt Zouma knock down and his shot was destined for the bottom corner only for Sommer to save again. And then finally the Blues were back in the game.
The busy Kovacic drew a foul from stand in skipper Matthias Ginter, and when the referee pointed to the spot, Abraham fired the penalty kick home into the bottom left corner.
The visitors continued their onslaught, with much of the traffic passing through the impressive Mount. He crossed for Christensen but the defender’s header was mis-directed and then Zouma headed over from a Mount cross.
Hofmann tried to relieve the pressure with a speculative long range effort but it was no trouble for Kepa, and at the other end, Marcos Alonso teed up Mount but his shot was straight at Sommer. And then, on 86 minutes Chelsea got the second breakthrough and this time it was Mount upended by Keanan Bennetts, and this time Ross Barkley fired home from 12 yards.
It was no more than Chelsea deserved.
Key statistics
The Monchengladbach vs Chelsea highlights tell a story of a home side over-run for much of the game, but with a keeper determined to keep their visitors at bay.
Lampard’s Blues were a little unlucky to go into the break 2-0 down, having had 67 per cent possession and four shots on target to Monchengladbach’s two.
The crucial stat there, of course, is that both Die Fohlens’ efforts ended up in the Chelsea net!
Both had high passing percentages, with the hosts completing over 85 per cent and Chelsea managing an impressive 90 per cent.
They kept the ball well in the second half too, but it was largely one way traffic with Chelsea eventually having 12 shots on target to Die Fohlens’ two.
What’s next?
With a two year transfer ban imposed, the Blues won’t be joining in the summer Premier League transfer scramble; and so Lampard will go with the squad he has when his team opens up with a blockbuster clash against Manchester United. The Red Devils have just completed the record signing of defender Harry Maguire and will provide a stiff test for the new Chelsea boss.
That will be a cracking opening to the Premier League season and we’ll be right there with all the action here at SBOBET.
Meanwhile Borussia has a DFB Pokal tie against Sandhausen to look forward to before the Bundesliga season kicks off.
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