Borussia Monchengladbach maintained their perfect home start to the Bundesliga season with a very hard-fought 1-0 win over struggling Freiburg.
The hosts had the better of the chances in the first half, but were unable to find the net against a resilient Freiburg back line.
It was looking as though neither side would be able to find a goal, before Oscar Wendt crossed for Raffael to tap into an empty net and give his side all three points.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone and thanks for joining me for the second Bundesliga game of the afternoon. It's Gladbach vs. Freiburg.
Just enough time for the two teams before the game starts...
GLADBACH XI: Ter Stegen; Korb, Jantschke, Stranzl, Wendt; Kramer, Xhaka; Herrmann, Arango; Raffael, Kruse
FREIBURG XI: Baumann; Sorg, Hohn, Diagne, Gunter; Ginter, Hofler; Coquelin, Mehmedi, Freis; Hanke
KICKOFF:Here we go then. The hosts in white get us underway.
Both sides are trying to use the ball early on. There should be good passing from either team - Gladbach are calm and patient early on but are not being allowed too much room.
No chances as yet as both sides continue to try to work each other out tactically. Ter Stegen has had plenty of touches so far as the hosts get every player involved looking for the opportunity.
Juan Arango has been caught offside a couple of times so far, but the one just now was very debatable. Max Kruse up top loves to drop into space, which Arango does run into every game. He went just too early there according to the assistant referee.
Still Gladbach with the vast majority of possession, but Freiburg's shape has been good so far. It is the same lineup for the third time running by Lucien Favre, incidentally, and with the way they have been playing you can understand why.
I"m slightly disappointed with what I've seem from Gladbach so far. They have not found much penetration in the final third, which usually at home they manage very quickly.
Gladbach are being forced to shoot from range. Arango picks up the ball after a lovely flick from Raffael, but his effort from about 30 yards goes well wide of the far post.
CLOSE! Mike Hanke rises to meet a flicked-on corner but his effort is just turned over. He might have thought he was offside there as he was left wide open and didn't seem to think it would have counted.
Hanke would certainly love a goal here against his old stomping ground. He didn't leave on the best of terms, initially refusing to sign a new deal, and I'm not sure he's ended up at a better club. He has played well here so far and is full of running.
CHANCE! What an effort from Patrick Herrmann! He chested the ball up into the box and tried a scissors volley, but his goalbound effort was tipped on to the bar and over by Baumann. Brilliant effort.
Freiburg come forward again and Hanke is heavily involved, linking play on a couple of occasions with Coquelin. However, they are forced back and end up giving it away without having a chance on goal.
Dangerous position for a free kick here for Arango, as he is brought down by Hofler...
His strike goes straight into the wall, though, and Freiburg survive. The hosts come again through Raffael on the left, but his cross cannot find a white shirt. At the other end Hanke holds up the play and looks through for Ginter, who wins a corner off Jantschke.
Gladbach have not found their usual flowing form so far. That is largely down to Freiburg's shape, which has frustrated their opponents so far. Gladbach don't yet look like the same side that has won six of six at home.
CHANCE! There's a look-in for Arange, who has bee Gladbach's most dangerous player. He brings down a flicked ball over the top and tries to poke it goalwards but Hohn is across really well to block it behind for a corner.
Poor from Kruse. It's not the best of chances as he's forced wide by Gunter, but he does slash at his left-foot shot from an angle and his effort goes way over the bar. Just a minute of time to be added on.
HALF TIME: Gladbach 0-0 Freiburg
So Freiburg's game plan to frustrate Gladbach has worked to a tee so far. The hosts have largely been restricted to shots from range and solo attempts and really the goalless scoreline is correct at the break.
Arango has probably been the best player for the hosts and he probably should have an assist to his name. He was given the ball some 35 yards from goal and fizzed it across to Herrmann, who somehow shot over when he really should have scored.
The hosts need more urgency to start the second half. They certainly have the quality as their attacking players have had some really nice touches, but it has been fairly comfortable for the hosts who themselves have threatened on occasion through ex-Gladbach man Hanke.
For Christian Streich, he will be delighted with his team's shape in the first half and might fancy that they could nick this one. The players begin to come out for the second half as we see several supporting gorging on some pastry and meat related snacks.
We're back underway here and Freiburg win a corner instantly, within 20 seconds of the half getting started.
The game has quickly settled back into the same pattern from the first half. Gladbach are seeing all the ball, are being allowed space in their own half but are being quickly closed down once they cross half way.
A rare foray forward there from the visitors, as Mehmedi raced down the left and found Freis, but the midfielder's return pass could not get through the wall of white and Gladbach escape. There's a throw on the other side, though, as the visitors step it up slightly.
Something will surely have to give before too long. Gladbach has not been put under any pressure with the ball at the back, which means that they are unlikely to make any mistakes - that could be what Freiburg need to win.
BOOKING: Gladbach's right-back Korb is the first man in the book here as he tripped Freis. From the free kick Mehmedi picked up the ball and shot low, but Ter Stegen was well behind it.
FREIBURG SUB: First roll of the dice here from Streich. Freis makes way for teenager Sebastian Kerk.
Gladbach have had 66% of the ball so far, which doesn't surprise me in the least. I would also hazard a guess that the majority of that has been in their own or the middle third. Absolutely nothing has given from Freiburg at the back.
GOAL! Gladbach 1-0 Freiburg (Raffael)
Whoops. I had to say it. Coquelin gave away a foul and Gladbach took it quickly. Kruse picked up the ball and played in Wendt down the left, who looked to his left to see Raffael waiting for the tap-in, and the Brazilian made no mistake to put his side ahead. Now Freiburg have to change it up.
BOOKING: Even though there have not been many chances so far, you cannot deny that Gladbach deserve to be leading. Korb is now marauding forward at any chances and is brought down by Gunter, who goes into the book somewhat harshly.
FREIBURG SUB: Hanke, who is getting a good reception from both sets of fans, comes off for Vladimir Darida. That's a good change as the striker has faded badly in this half.
Korb again finds himself providing the width as Gladbach looked to break. His cross was blocked for a corner, though, and up come the big guys... The corner is played short, though, and in the end their space is crowded out.
BOOKING: A little bit of frustration setting in now for the visitors. Kerb goes into the book for a crunching challenge. Gladbach are trying to slow this down now.
There is still no urgency from the Freiburg players and if they don't get some soon then they're slumping to a disappointing defeat. Not pressing is fine when you want to keep shape, but now they need to go for a goal.
Finally a little bit more pressure from the visitors as Raffael is forced back to win the ball to help out his defence. It's still not enough for Streich, who does not look too happy in the dugout.
FREIBURG SUB: Lorenzoni is on for Coquelin for the visitors as Streich makes his final change.
GLADBACH SUB: Branimir Hrgota comes on for Herrmann, as Wendt looks for Rafael from the left but Baumann is out well to gather down low.
GLADBACH SUB: Favre really is looking to wind this one down. Raffael, who has been excellent, comes off for Luuk de Jong who is trying to get a first-team spot.
Freiburg are finishing the game with some possession, but it's still all too easy at the back for Gladbach. Sorg crosses and it is deflected but Ter Stegen is up well to take a big claim.
There will be two more minutes of this for Freiburg to get the equaliser. It's unlikely...
GLADBACH SUB: And here comes the final sub. Arango is walking off the pitch and Havard Nordtveit comes on for the last few seconds.
FULL TIME: Gladbach 1-0 Freiburg
So there we have it. Gladbach maintain their 100% home but they have certainly played better in all the other six! Freiburg kept it tight but in the end were undone once, which proved to be enough.
That's all from me. Thanks for joining me here and please do hang around for results and reaction to all today's football. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
