It took a two-leg relegation play-off last season to prevent Borussia MGladbach from dropping out of the Bundesliga. A late goal in each of the two games against VfL Bochum earned the side a 2-1 aggregate win, thus ensuring their safety in Germany’s top flight for yet another campaign. As the domestic campaign pauses for the ensuing two-week international break right now, MGladbach sit in third place, defying all expectations with a series of resolute displays.
With five victories under their belt, Lucien Favre’s side have already won half the number of games they managed last season and despite last weekend’s slender away defeat at Freiburg, sit just three points behind league leaders Bayern Munich. WhoScored analyse just where they are going right this time round:
Team Stats:
Despite scoring just 9 goals so far this season, MGladbach have fired off 15 shots per game, the fourth-best tally in the league, with Bayern top on 17. Much of this has been down to poor finishing, with forward pair Mike Hanke and Raul Bobadilla amongst the main culprits- they have scored just once between them so far. Only 4 goals have come from open play, with 3 from the penalty spot and 2 from set pieces.
In terms of possession, only Bayern (63%) and Dortmund (61%) have dominated games more than MGladbach (54%) and as result, they’ve conceded just 11 shots per game. This is also supplemented by solid defensive work that has seen them average 22 tackles and 17 interceptions, in addition to winning 58% of aerial duels, the second best ratio in the Bundesliga.
Ter Stegen The Saver
The nineteen year old keeper set the tone for the season with a superb man of the match performance in the opening win at Bayern Munich. MGladbach’s goal in that 1-0 win is the only time Bayern have conceded this season and thanks to Marc-André ter Stegen’s eight saves, it’s their only defeat, too. With four clean sheets from his eight games, ter Stegen has never conceded more than one goal a game and a series of defiant displays has seen him average 3.4 saves per game. Despite Bayern’s defensive brilliance, ter Stegen is called into action more than the likes of Manuel Neuer and, as such, is the top-rated keeper in the Bundesliga, with an average 7.28 per game responsible for his place in the Bundesliga team of the season thus far.
Dante Calm at the Back
MGladbach’s patient build-up play is reflected by the fact they have 39% of their possession in their own defensive third of the pitch- the most of any side. Centre half Dante is key to their coolness in possession- the Brazilian makes more passes (59.8) than any team-mate and has shown his ability when on the ball with 1.1 successful dribbles per game, bringing the ball out from the back.
Winning 83% aerial duels, he deters attack after attack and his reading of the game is highlighted by his 1.9 interceptions and 4.1 clearances. While central defensive partner Roel Brouwers has averaged 6.54 per game in terms of WhoScored ratings, Dante’s 7.05 illustrates how much of a difference he makes at the heart of the MGladbach back-four.
Arango on the Left
Most of MGladbach’s play comes down their left hand side- 38% to be exact. This player position map from the weekend’s game (right) at Freiburg illustrates how the side’s 4-4-2 tends to operate- Juan Arango (18) hogs the touchline and provides plenty of width on the left, while right winger Marco Reus (11) drifts inside and tends to play far more centrally, with 33% coming from his flank in comparison.
Arango has taken on the mantle as his side’s main goal threat, with 3.6 shots per game, though has scored just once so far. His 2.4 key passes and 1.6 successful dribbles are second only to Reus on the other flank and, while showing plenty of attacking threat, are supplemented by strong defensive work that highlights MGladbach’s all-round work-ethic. An average of 1.4 tackles and 1.8 interceptions has helped Arango to a WhoScored match rating of 7.45, fourteenth best in the Bundesliga so far.
Reus The Star
As mentioned above, MGladbach’s forwards have failed to sparkle, meaning much of the onus has been on the wingers to produce. In a series of sparkling performances, Reus has delivered; an average of 7.85 per game is the second best WhoScored rating in the Bundesliga this season, just pipped to first place by Franck Ribery (7.88).
His side’s chief creator with 3.5 key passes, Reus provides chances aplenty for his team mates though due to some poor finishing, he has yet to earn a single assist. A brilliant 4.3 successful dribbles per game highlights his ability on the ball and danger to opposition left-backs and with 3.1 shots per game, he’s managed 2 goals to date.
Similar to Arango, his attacking stats are not the only impressive part of Reus’ game; 2.1 tackles and 1.6 interceptions are indicative of the will-to-win that has exemplified MGladbach’s season so far. When their star performer is so willing to graft for the team’s cause, the rest of the side can’t help but respond in a similarly impressive vein.
