Bundesliga – Tactical Analysis – Borussia M'gladbach 3 Schalke 1

Bundesliga – Tactical Analysis – Borussia M'gladbach 3 Schalke 1

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Andre Schubert’s dream start as Borussia Monchengladbach manager continued on Sunday, with the Foals 3 – 1 win over Schalke extending their winning streak to five matches. Goals from Lars Stindl, Raffael and fullback Julian Korb cancelled out the own goal that Andreas Christensen turned into his own net.

Gladbach pressed their opponents from the word go, suffocating Schalke in their own half and forced Ralf Farhmann into some good saves, including a Lars Stindl penalty; before the striker knocked home the rebound to put Die Fohlen up. Just before the break Christensen turned a cross from Max Meyer past his own goalkeeper, and Schalke went into the Half-time interval on level terms.

After the break, the visitors spurned a number of chances to go ahead, and were punished by Raffael’s splendid free kick as it whistled past Farhmann, and the Brazilian was involved again late as he set up Korb to fire home to make it three. Gladbach were forced to count the cost of the game though, with a horror tackle on Andre Hahn by Johannes Geis earning the Schalke man a red card, and Hahn a serious injury. Gladbach revealed on Twitter later that Hahn fractured his tibia and suffered a torn meniscus, ruling him out for a large period of the season, most likely.

Formations

Gladbach starting XI: Sommer; Korb, Christensen, Jantschke, Wendt; Traore (Hahn 74’, Hazard 82’), Dahoud (Nordtveit 57’), Xhaka, Johnson; Stindl, Raffael

The home side rolled out in their traditional 4-4-2, with two flat banks of four, and Granit Xhaka and Mahmoud Dahoud reveling in their central midfield roles. Fabian Johnson and Ibrahima Traore began as the wide men, and you can read more of Traore’s brilliant wing performance below. Only one major change from their previous lineup was made, as Tony Jantschke slotted in alongside Andreas Christensen in central defence, replacing Alvaro Dominguez.

Lars Stindl and Raffael led Gladbach’s pressing from the front, helping to pin the ball back into Schalke’s half as the game took off early.

Schalke starting XI: Fährmann; Riether, Höwedes, Matip, Aogo; Geis, Höjbjerg (Choupo Moting 78’); Caicara (Huntelaar 73’), Meyer, Sane; Di Santo (Neustädter 89’)

Schalke meanwhile set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Argentine striker Franco Di Santo rounding out the top of the teamsheet. Youngster Pierre Hojbjerg anchored the midfield alongside Geis, later sent off, and the two of them held in front of the defence as Max Meyer, Leroy Sane and Junior Caicara played in more advanced roles behind Di Santo, looking to create chances. With Gladbach not having an advanced central presence between the strikers and holding mids, Schalke should have been able to control this area to a greater degree, but instead struggled under their pressing, and surrendered possession on a number of occasions.

In-form Ibrahima

The Guinea international was in fine form in this match, utilising his incredible pace and dribbling to great effect down the right hand side. He completed five dribbles without been dispossessed, and made life hard all game for Schalke’s fullback Dennis Aogo. His 76% passing success was also important, helping to construct Gladbach’s attacks as he moved into a more advanced position. Successfully beating players on five occasions as well, Traore had three shots on goal including one that forced a good save, and the winger reinforced to Andre Schubert just how important he is to this side.

Ibrahima Traore’s take-ons (Squawka)

Teamwork makes the dream work

Julian Korb and Oscar Wendt cover a serious amount of ground up the lines as fullbacks, and as such they often leave space behind them that can be exploited. However, at Gladbach, centre-backs Andreas Christensen and Tony Jantschke are here to help, and their WhoScored heat maps show just how much extra work they do to cover for their advancing teammates. With Korb netting a goal of his own late on, and Wendt tracking continually back and forth, the cover provided in this system is invaluable.

Heat maps for Christensen and Jantschke

Freedom of expression is needed at Schalke

It may be a part of the system, or it may be chance, but the difference in Take-ons between the two sides was far wider than it should be. Gladbach players successfully beat their opponent on 21 occasions compared to Schalke’s six, and this seeming freedom of expression for Gladbach feels like a big part of why they were successful. When pressing Schalke into their own half, having the freedom to run at players and really work with the ball helps in creating far more opportunities. It appears to be something that Schubert is fostering going forward, particularly in his wide men, and it might not hurt for Andre Breitenreiter to look into it as well.

Borussia Monchengladbach Conclusion

Yet another big result for the home side, who are proving to be masters of the remarkable turnaround following their fifth straight league win. If they see of Schalke once more in the DFB-Pokal during this week, then Schubert’s men will be high on confidence as they travel to Berlin next weekend. The spirit of the team shone through Granit Xhaka, who spoke afterwards of ‘been the better team’ and the change in emotion over the last few weeks has shown hugely in their performances. Bravo, Andre Schubert.

Schalke Conclusion

Clearly not the end of the world for the visitors, their third loss of the year has not budged them from third spot on the table, and moods are still positive around the Veltins Arena. However a loss in the cup midweek ahead of the visit from Ingolstadt next weekend could see some temperatures running a bit high, particularly with Gladbach, competitors for Europe, in such scintillating form. A number of players will need to improve on today’s performance, notably focal point Max Meyer, if they are to keep their spot in Breitenreiter’s team.

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