Lucien Favre’s Borussia Mönchengladbach continued their stunning Cinderella start to the campaign with 1-0 victory over visiting Nürnberg in match day seven of the Bundesliga Hinrude. With the result, “Die Fohlen” sits an astounding second in the table, two points off first place Bayern München and growing in confidence with each week.

Coming off the victory over Hamburger SV, Mr. Favre made two changes to his starting eleven with Martin Stranzl and Mike Hanke entering for Roel Brouwers and Patrick Herrmann. From the opening whistle the Bavarian side were clearly on their heels early as Igor de Camargo sent a header over the bar in their first minute of play. The energetic duo of Igor de Camargo and Marco Reus displayed ample attacking venom with the latter missing the mark just past quarter-hour before later missing again.

At the re-start, the Nürnberg summoned Almog Cohen for Markus Mendler but still the run of play was clearly in the host’s advantage. Shy of the hour mark Roman Neustädter’s seemingly goal bound effort was denied by in-form Nürnberg ‘keeper Alexander Stephan as Borussia-Park sat on the edge of their seats waiting for the deadlock to be broken. After the visiting ‘keeper made another top notch stop Borussia got the break they were looking for as match day referee Knut Kircher adjudged Javier Pinola a penalty for bringing down Marco Reus in the area a pointed to the spot. In the ensuing effort Filip Daem made no mistake in sending the ball into the net and provide Borussia the lead they would not relinquish. For the balance of the time the hosts rarely offered a chance to level and with the final whistle Borussia Mönchengladbach, looking very much like a team destined for success, extended their Cinderella story with yet another win with a 1-0 result.

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VfL Wolfburg’s relegation fears accelerated as they fell 2-1 to European hopefuls FC Nürnberg, via Per Nilsson’s last gasp strike. With the result, the 2009 Bundesliga champions crash to the final relegation spot, whilst FCK squeezes to within a point of Mainz 05.

With only a single win in their last six contests, the free falling Wolfsburg was in dire need of a win in front of their home supporters at Volkswagen Arena. Pierre Littbarski’s forces came out quickly with Dieudonne Mbokani’s effort shy of the quarter-hour stopped by FCK goalkeeper Raphael Schäfer. Die Wölfe would not be deterred and at the twenty-second minute former Žilina man Peter Pekarík delivered a stunning cross from the right flank that Mario Mandžukić nodded into the net. Wolfsburg continued the onslaught but after Diego squandered a high probability chance, FCK levelled just before the break as Philipp Wollscheid nodded a long free-kick past Wolfsburg ‘keeper Diego Benaglio.

The second half began with play much like the first, with Wolfsburg dominating but unable to find the needed touch. Mario Mandžukić saw two quality efforts stopped with late chance by Cicero drifting wide as FCK offered little going forward. Wolfsburg would rue their missed opportunities as Per Nilsson, after entering for Almog Cohen in the final moments, headed a corner into the back of the net to give Nürnberg the 2-1 victory.

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John Davies is available on his personal page on Facebook , Renegade Training™’s, as well as or Twitter.

In addition to Europa League News, John Davies writes on the “Beautiful Game” for Russian media giant Sport-Express. (Спорт-Экспресс) as well as the legendary Spartak Moscow.

Borussia Mönchengladbach, served notice in their opening contest of the Rückrunde they were ready for the challenge of climbing from the bottom of the Bundesliga table, as they defeated host Nürnberg at Frankenstadion.

Die Fohlen, facing a difficult task of avoiding relegation, shored up their unit during the winter break with Austrian international Martin Stranzl from Spartak Moscow, Håvard Nordtveit from Arsenal and crafty striker Mike Hanke from Hannover 96. From the opening whistle, Michael Frontzeck’s side showed defending discipline, something that evaded them in surrendering forty-seven goals in the opening half of the campaign and continued to keep FCK at bay. At the eighth minute, Borussia launched a quick counter down left with Mike Hanke delivering a lofted cross to the opposite side of the area that Roman Neustädter half-volleyed into the net. With the lead, the visitors dug into their defending heels and rarely allowed a not worthy effort towards goalkeeper Christofer Heimeroth, although they were fortunate to see a highly questionable penalty call denied.

At the re-start FCK manager Dieter Hecking called upon Christian Eigler for Almog Cohen as his side went in search of the leveller. Despite the urging of their voracious supporters, the curmudgeonly Borussia defenders allow few chances, with the majority of chances low probability. With twelve minutes remaining, the FCK tactician added former Austria Wein-man Rubin Okotie as they poured forward and after seeing a number of efforts come up empty were presented a gifted chance to square the contest. With five minutes remaining, match day referee Babak Rafati, after a number of questionable calls were waived off, adjudged a penalty as Tobias Levels fouled Christian Eigler in the area. In the ensuing effort Borussia ‘keeper Christopher Heimeroth heroically stopped Javier Pinola to preserve the 1-0 victory and the much-needed three points.

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Nürnberg completed its mission to stay in top flight of the Bundesliga with a 2-0 defeat of Augsburg at the Impuls Arena to claim the aggregate in the relegation playoff 3-0.

Coming off their 1-0 opening leg victory at the Frankenstadion, Nürnberg knew they had a difficult task in their short journey south. After a fast start Nürnberg took the lead four minutes past the half-hour as Ilkay Gündogan accepted Albert Bunjaku’s provision and sent the ball into the net past ‘keeper Simon Jentzsch.

Augsburg chances grew dim eleven minutes after the break as Ibrahima Traoré was shown a straight red-card, forcing his side to play a man down. Seven minutes later the contest was ostensibly fait accompli as match day Manuel Gräfe adjudged Uwe Möhrle a penalty on his rash challenge of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The twenty-one year-old Cameroonian stepped-up to the ensuing effort and confidently scored to give his side the 2-0. Following the marker, the pace of the match slowed as Nürnberg claimed the 2-0 victory and the all-import spot in the top fight of the Bundesliga.

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Nürnberg, after grabbing a late winning goal against Köln in the final week of the Bundesliga, squeezed by Augsburg 1-0 in the opening leg of the relegation playoff at the Frankenstadion.

With so much at risk, the opening stages were tight, though the visitors showed a more aggressive intent. Midway of the opening half, Jos Luhukay’s side narrowly missed taking the lead as Michael Thurk sent Jens Hegeler’s cross off-course. FCN squandered a fine chance nine minutes shy of the break as Albert Bunjaku could not turn in Andreas Ottl’s free kick.

After the break, the tempo picked up with the hosts forcing Augsburg goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch into a series of top shelf saves. Six minutes past the hour, the visiting ‘keeper came up big to stop Albert Bunjaku from the spot after a penalty was awarded when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was brought down the area. Finally, with six minutes remaining in regulation time FCN lodged the winner as Christian Eigler, at the near post, nodded in Christian Eigler’s free kick.

The Bavarian battle heads south for the second leg on Sunday at Impuls Arena as Augsburg looks to win passage to the top flight for the first time in its history.

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Borussia Dortmund closed in on spot in European football with a 3-2 win over Nürnberg at Frankenstadion. With the result, BVB holds down the fifth spot in the Bundesliga table, whilst Nürnberg relegation fears are valid as they at fourteenth, level with in points with VfL Bochum and SC Freiburg.

The Dortmunders for the going tough against their determined hosts were no true early chances worth note. However, at the twenty-seventh minute the deadlock was broken as Lucas Barrios, at the back post, headed Nuri Şahin’s free kick to the back of the net to give BVB the 1-0 lead. Dieter Hecking s side levelled only three minutes later as Mike Frantz got on the end of a long ball from Dennis Diekmeier before scoring from the edge of the area. Chances were rare through the break and both sides went to the change room with the match squared.

At restart, BVB manager Jürgen Klopp summoned Tamás Hajnal into the fray for some much-needed attacking vision. Following a few modest chances the Dortmunders went in front 2-1 as Lucas Barrios was played in by Nuri Şahin before sending the ball past the host ‘keeper Raphael Schäfer. With twelve minutes remaining in regulation Lucas Barrios poached on a rebound of Nuri Şahin’s effort and sent his third goal of the day in to give BVB the 3-1 lead. FCN showed no quit and with six minutes remaining Christian Eigler finished off a long provision to pull within one. Fighting for relegation threatened lives, FCN pressed for the equalizer but after three minutes of added time, the match concluded with Borussia Dortmund claiming the 3-2 victory.

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Werder Bremen edged Nürnberg 4-2 at the Weserstadion to continue their race towards the Europa League. With the result, Werder Bremen holds down the fifth position in the Bundesliga table, whilst FCN are balances above the relegation zone at fifteenth.

Die Grün-Weißen took the lead a minute after the opening whistle as Per Mertesacker headed Mesut Özil’s cross to the back of the net. Per Mertesacker doubled the margin at the twentieth minute with his second of the day as he nodded Marko Marin’s corner into the netting. Six minutes past the half-hour, Tim Borowski sent in Marko Marin’s provision to give Werder the 3-0 lead at the beak.

After the break Nürnberg stormed back to make the affair interesting, starting with Mike Frantz’s marker at the forty-eighth minute via Juri Judt supply from the right. FCN continued its surge as three minutes past the hour Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting brought the match to within one from the spot after Clemens Fritz was adjudged a handball. With eight minutes remaining Torsten Frings was sent off with a straight red-card, forcing Werder to play a man down for the remaining time. However, that was as close as it would get and as time wound down Clemens Fritz turned in a defending error to bring the match to a 4-2 finale.

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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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Hertha Berlin’s hopes of avoiding relegation were dealt a tough lesson as they succumbed late, to lose 2-1 to Nürnberg at the Olympiastadion. Coming off their stunning upset of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the win jettisons FCN to fifteenth in the Bundesliga table, whilst the Berliners are at the rock bottom, a full nine points from safety.

The match started positive for the Berliners and by the quarter hour, they appeared to be in clear control of the proceedings. After a series of chances that came up for naught, Theofanis Gekas, from close-range, sent in a rebound of Cícero’s effort to give Hertha Berlin the 1-0 lead before the break.

However, missed opportunities cost Hertha dearly and just past the hour Nürnberg found the leveller as Albert Bunjaku headed Marcel Risse’s corner from the left. The Berliners were clearly on their heels for the reminder of the day and deep into added-time Angelos Charisteas accepted İlkay Gündogan’s provision before sending the ball past ‘keeper Jaroslav Drobný from seven metres out for the 2-1 victory. The goal sparked a notable pitch invasion from Hertha supporters who are beginning to accept the stark reality that their side are slipping off to the Bundesliga second division.

On Sunday, Hertha Berlin faces surging VfL Wolfsburg at Volkswagen Arena, whilst Nürnberg welcome 1899 Hoffenheim to the Frankenstadion the previous day.

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Nürnberg handed Bayer 04 Leverkusen its first loss of the campaign with a 3-2 decision at the Frankenstadion. With the result, Nürnberg climb out of the relegation zone to fifteen in the Bundesliga table, whilst Bayer 04 Leverkusen stumbles to the third spot.

Werkself came out hot, looking for goals but found one by one, their efforts were squandered. Der Club took the shock 1-0 lead at the forty-second minute when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting got on the end of Mike Frantz’s flick on of a long ball before drilling it into the back of the net. Only three minutes later Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting accepted Dennis Diekmeier’s provision in the area before doubling the lead.

FCN went into full celebration ten minutes after the restart when Mickaël Tavares latched onto Marcel Risse’s corner and drove the ball in from twelve metres. Down 3-0, Bayer 04 began to launch its comeback with Stefan Kießling, from ten metres, turned in Gonzalo Castro’s cross. Seven minutes later Patrick Helmes set up an exciting finish as he took advantage of a defensive blunder before scoring.
Jupp Heynckes’ side when on the hunt for the equalizer but it could not be found and the match ended 3-2 in favour of FCN.

Nürnberg faces Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion, whilst Bayer 04 Leverkusen goes up against Hamburger SV at the Volksparkstadion the following day.

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