Borussia Mönchengladbach, under the brilliant guidance of new manager Lucien Favre, continued its fight to avoid relegation as they shook off their problematic play at home this campaign to defeat 1899 Hoffenheim 2-0. With the result, the “Fohlen” pull within three points of Werder Bremen and Kaiserslautern at the bottom of the Bundesliga table, whist 1899 are firmly entrenched at the ninth spot.

Following their disappointing loss to VfL Wolfsburg, Borussia manager Lucien Favre made four adjustments to his starting eleven with the highly promising attacker Tony Jantschke entering along with Michael Fink, Thorben Marx Igor De Camargo for Tobias Levels, Håvard Nordtveit, Mohamadou Idrissou and Patrick Herrmann.
With Borussia-Park in full song, the Fohlen took the pitch with new found confidence and narrowly missed taking the lead at the eighth minute when Juan Arango Igor sent Igoe Camargo’s cross off-course. After Marco Reus sent a probing effort from distrance just wide of the woodwork, Igor de Camargo saw his goal bound effort from five metres spectacularly stopped by the visiting goalkeeper Tom Starke.
Played continued tight after the break until five minutes past the hour match day referee Florian Meyer adjudged Tom Starke a penalty for up-ending Igor de Camargo in the area after he had been played through on the left and pointed to the spot. In the ensuing effort Belgium international Filip Daems fired the ball beyond the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper to give Borussia Mönchengladbach the one goal advantage. The margin was doubled a scant five minutes later as Igor de Camargo leapt high to head Juan Arango’s corner from the left into the net and from there it was clear sailing for the hosts. Excluding an effort by Ryan Babel that missed the target, 1899 barely bothered host ‘keeper Logan Bailly and without further incident Borussia Mönchengladbach went onto to claim the full three points with a 2-0 victory.

Borussia Mönchengladbach relegation fight shifts into top gear over the next two weeks with crucial battles against Werder Bremen and Kaiserslautern, which will play a great role in deciding if there are in the top flight next season.

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Nürnberg extended its fight to avoid relegation as they held 1899 Hoffenheim to a scoreless draw at Frankenstadion. The result pushes FCN to the fifteenth spot in the Bundesliga table, two points above Hannover 96 and Freiburg, whilst 1899 are entrenched at eleventh.

Dieter Hecking’s were comfortable absorbing 1899’s pressure and remained patience, looking for a chance to launch a counter. Their efforts saw 1899 control possession, yet the final third was lacking and what did sneak was dealt with promptly by FCN ‘keeper Raphael Schäfer.

After the break, Vedad Ibišević was denied twice by the FCN ‘keeper and it was clear that the hosts were going to stick to their tactical plan and not risk going forward. 1899 manager summoned Ralf Rangnick Prince Tagoe and Boris Vukčević into the match late as he looked for the needed touch but it was not forthcoming and the match concluded as a nil draw.

Nürnberg returns to play next Saturday as they welcome to Frankenstadion, whilst 1899 Hoffenheim faces Freiburg at Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

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Werder Bremen continued its run towards a spot in the Europa League with a tough 1-0 defeat of 1899 Hoffenheim 1-0 at a sold-out Rhein-Neckar-Arena. With the result Werder extends their unbeaten streak to six matches and holds down the sixth spot in the Bundesliga table, whilst 1899 are eleventh.

From the recent Europa League match against Valencia, Werder manager Thomas Schaaf adjusted his starting eleven with Hugo Almeida and Philipp Bargfrede summoned in for Marko Marin and Mesut Özil. Both sides demonstrated an intense defending approach that saw few true chances prior to the break, excluding Per Mertesacker effort from point blank range that 1899 ‘keeper Timo Hildebrand denied.

There was little change in the run of play after the break and looking for the much need attacking inspiration Werder called up Marko Marin and Daniel Jensen after the hour. Die Grün-Weißen lodged the winning mark with ten minutes remaining as Claudio Pizzaro got on the end of Daniel Jensen’s long pass before chipping the ball over the onrushing ‘keeper. Without further incident the match concluded as Werder claimed the full three points with the 1-0 victory.

Werder returns to play on Thursday in the second leg of the Europa League tie against Valencia before domestic play on Sunday, as VfL Bochum visits Weserstadion. On Saturday 1899 looks to regain its winning form as they visit relegation-threatened Nürnberg.

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Mainz continued its impressive play since winning promotion as they edged 1899 Hoffenheim at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena. With the result, Mainz climbs to ninth in the Bundesliga table, whilst 1899 drift to the eleventh spot.

Despite what the score suggests, the match was a fast paced affair with both sides unable to convert on a number of high quality chances. After 1899 posed a number of attacking threats, the momentum slowly shifted towards Mainz. However, with twenty-one minutes remaining Mainz scored the matches lone goal as a long clearance counter, dissected the 1899 defenders before Aristide Bancé got on the end of it and fired the ball into the net from well outside the area. Though 1899 looked for the leveller, they were unable to do so and the match ended 1-0 , in favour of Mainz.

Mainz returns to play on Saturday as they welcome Köln, whilst 1899 Hoffenheim sees Werder Bremen visit Rhein-Neckar-Arena the following day.

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Hertha Berlin’s bid to avoid relegation was held up with a 2-0 loss to 1899 Hoffenheim at the Olympiastadion. With the result, the Berliners hold down the bottom of the Bundesliga table, trailing Hannover 96 by two points, whilst 1899 Hoffenheim are at the ninth spot.

Buoyed by last weeks victory over Freiburg, Friedhelm Funkel’s Hertha Berlin showed tremendous resolve but lacked the final touch. The hosts narrowly jumped in front in the early moments as Rafael dislodged Marvin Compper but sent his effort wide of the goal post. The Berliners continued to press forward with efforts from Adrián Ramos and Rafael effort coming up empty. Against the run of play, 1899 took the 1-0 lead ten minutes shy of the break as Christian Eichner surged down the left before sending a pass to Demba Ba, with the Senegalese striker getting past defender Arne Friedrich before driving the ball past Berlin goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobný.

The Berliners were clearly the most adventurous side after the break, though 1899 was comfortable sitting on their heels and absorbing pressure. Just before the end of regulation time Bosnia and Herzegovina international Vedad Ibišević accepted Carlos Eduardo and drilled the ball to the back of the net to seal a 2-0 victory for 1899 Hoffenheim.

Hertha Berlin returns to play next Saturday as they travel to face Hamburger SV at Volksparkstadion, whilst 1899 Hoffenheim welcomes Mainz to Sinsheim

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Borussia Mönchengladbach’s thin hopes for a berth on the European stage narrowed as 1899 Hoffenheim rallied late for a 2-2 draw at Rhein-Neckar-Arena. With the result, the two sides remained deadlocked in points, with 1899 ahead on goal differential at the ninth spot in the Bundesliga table and Gladbach at tenth.

Coming of their victory over Nürnberg, Borussia Mönchengladbach took the lead just after the half-hour after sustaining a number of quality attacking advances by their hosts. Following Per Nilsson adjudged for a handball in the area and a penalty awarded, veteran Filip Daems converted from the spot to give Gladbach the 1-0 lead.

At the break Ralf Rangnick summoned Boris Vukčević into the match but only six minutes later Die Fohlen doubled its lead as Roberto Colautti sent in Raúl Bobadilla’s diving header back of Tobias Levels cross from the right. Nine minutes past the hour, Carlos Eduardo surged into the right side before passing the ball across to Bosnia and Herzegovina international Vedad Ibišević who then scored from seven metres to bring the match to 2-1. In the final twenty minutes, Borussia manager Michael Frontzeck called upon the fresh legs of Thomas Kleine, Rob Friend and Karim Matmour but just before the regulation time wound down, disaster struck as a penalty was awarded as Filip Daems handled the ball in the area. Carlos Eduardo brought the Sinsheim faithful to their feet and he drove the ball in as the match concluded as a 2-2 draw, honours even.

Both sides return to play next Saturday as Borussia Mönchengladbach welcomes relegation threatened Freiburg to Borussia-Park, whilst 1899 Hoffenheim travel to the capital to face Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion.

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The Bundesliga returns on Friday evening in a mid-table battle as Borussia Mönchengladbach travels to Sinsheim to face 1899 Hoffenheim at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

Both sides have travelled quite a bit since winning promotion in the spring of 2008. Whilst 1899 claimed the Herbstmeister, before falling off measured, Gladback, through the work of veteran tactician Hans Meyer pulled off the “great escape” to avoid relegation. Entering match day twenty-three of the present campaign both sides are firmly entrenched in the Bundesliga and though a European spot seems only for the most optimistic supporters, they are building admirably for the future.

1899 manager Ralf Rangnick has been impressed with the work of new addition Maicosuel but his side is troubled with a series of injuries, including Austrian international Andreas Ibertsberger, Franco Zuculini and a possible loss of Isaac Vorsah.

Die Fohlen have had their problems away from the cozy confines of Borussia-Park, with only two wins on the road this season. Striking tandem Roberto Colautti and Raúl Bobadilla have shown well of recent but they will need to be at their best if they are to reverse 1899 domination of them as they have yet to defeat their southern neighbours.

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VfL Bochum earned an important three points in their bid to hold off relegation as they defeated 1899 Hoffenheim 2-1 at Ruhrstadion. The victory pushes Heiko Herrlich’s Bochum side into a three-way tie with defending champion Wolfsburg and Köln, eight points about Hannover 96 in the final relegation spot, whilst 1899 are at ninth in the Bundesliga table, level with Stuttgart and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Despite the score, much of the contest was controlled by 1899 with the footnote that finishing was lagging. After Bochumer goalkeeper Philipp Heerwagen thwarted an 1899 effort, the hosts took the 1-0 lead six minutes shy of the half-hour when Austrian international Christian Fuchs played through Stanislav Šesták, who finished perfectly.

Four minutes after the break, 1899’s efforts were rewarded as Carlos Eduardo linked the ball to Maicosuel on the right flank before the net man sent a cross that Bosnia and Herzegovina international Sejad Salihović volleyed to the back of the net. However, with fourteen minutes remaining, Christian Fuchs was once again the architect for Bochum as Zlatko Dedič headed his cross from the left in. In the final five minutes 1899 was forced by play a man down as Luiz Gustavo was red carded for a rash challenge of Lewis Holtby and disadvantage culled their efforts going forward as the Bochumers claimed the 2-1 victory.

1899 Hoffenheim return to play on Friday as they welcome Borussia Mönchengladbach to the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, whilst VfL Bochum face Mainz at the Stadion am Bruchweg on Saturday.

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Hannover 96’s woeful fall continued as they lost 2-1 to 1899 Hoffenheim Rhein-Neckar-Arena. The victory edges 1899 to seventh in the Bundesliga table whilst 96 are at the sixteenth spot and trail Freiburg by two points in their fight to avoid relegation.

1899, who were on their heels for much of the early going but after Hannover were unable to convert on a number of fine chances, took the 1-0 lead five minutes past the half-hour. Marvin Compper supplied Andreas Ibertsberger on the left before the Austrian international played a clever one-two with Chinedu Obasi. Easing towards by-line, he pushed the ball back to Carlos Eduardo who finished from the edge of the area. Five minutes later, disaster struck for 96 as Christian Schulz was adjudged a penalty for fouling Carlos Eduardo in the area. From the ensuing effort Bosnia and Herzegovina international Sejad Salihović converted to give 1899 the 2-0 lead at the break.

At the restart, Hannover manager Mirko Slomka called upon Sergio Pinto for Jan Rosenthal as his side looked for a way back into the match. Still 1899 were controlling the run of play until the fifty-first minute when Sofian Chahed played through Arouna Koné on the right channel and the Cote d’Ivoire international in his first match since loaned from Sevilla, finished with perfection. Down by one, 96 was showing little pulse driving forward and with twelve minutes remaining Mike Hanke as added for Leon Andreasen as an extra attacker. However, they were unable to post a single threat and the match concluded 2-1 in favour of 1899 Hoffenheim.

1899 Hoffenheim return to play on Tuesday in the DFB Pokal as they visit Werder Bremen before Saturday’s contest against VfL Bochum at Ruhrstadion. Hannover, who last won against Köln on 31 October and in dire need of points, welcome Werder Bremen to the Niedersachsenstadion on Saturday.

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Schalke’s revival under Felix Magath continued as they defeated slumping 1899 Hoffenheim 2-0 in Gelsenkirchen. With the victory pull even with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who play on Sunday, trailing Bundesliga leaders Bayern München, whilst 1899 are in a three-way tie with Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach at the ninth spot.

1899, without their first win of the Rückrunde after losses to Bayern München and Bayer Leverkusen, lacked the cutting edge, in what is best described as a “cautious” start to the affair. Die Königsblauen broke the deadlock at the nineteenth minute as Rafinha sent a long ball that Kevin Kurányi chased down and deftly chipped his eleventh goal of the campaign over 1899 goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand. Following the marker chances, were few as Schalke showed extreme patience and were prepared to pounce on the visitors over commitment. A late chance before the break came to 1899 striker Vedad Ibišević but the Bosnia and Herzegovina international was unable to convert.

Four minutes after the break, Schalke doubled its margin as Ivan Rakitić, subject of a number of rumours this week of a possible transfer, delivered a corner that after rattling around the box was dispatched into the net by the highly promising Lukas Schmitz. In the final twenty minutes, 1899 manager Ralf Rangnick gave Prince Tagoe and Adam Jabiri their Bundesliga debuts but his side suggested little chance of breaking through as Schalke clearly was not going to allow a last minute break down as they did last week. Without further incident, the match concluded and Schalke 04 grabbed the full three points with a 2-0 victory.

Both sides return to play next Saturday as 1899 Hoffenheim welcomes troubled Hannover 96 to Rhein-Neckar-Arena, whilst Schalke continues their assualt on the top of the table as they visit SC Freiburg at the Dreisamstadion.

Prepared by J. Davies
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