Super performance of the DFB player: Hofmann hurts FC Bayern a lot

Saturday, January 09, 2021

Super performance of the DFB player
Hofmann hurts FC Bayern a lot

How much Jonas Hofmann was missing from Borussia Mönchengladbach can now be seen when he is back. With two goals and two assists, the national player leads Borussia to two wins in the new year. Against FC Bayern, the 28-year-old is even the guarantee of victory with his coolness.

With returnee Jonas Hofmann back on track: For Borussia Mönchengladbach, the renewed coup against Bayern Munich should pave the way to the Bundesliga top group. "We have to use that for ourselves. It has to bring us courage, strength and greed," said Gladbach's coach Marco Rose after the race to catch up to 3-2 (2-2) after 0-2 deficit on Friday against the record champions, who lost for the 26th time against Borussia – against no other team this happened more often.

"Gladbach relied on the Umschaltspiel, they did it 1A," said the defeated Bayern coach Hansi Flick appreciatively after his only fourth defeat as Munich coach. For the second time, he was defeated by Borussia in the classic Bundesliga game, just like the 1: 2 three 13 months ago. Even then, the Rose team had turned a backlog. Match winner this time was national player Hofmann with his two goals to equalize before the break (36th minute / 45th) and his preparatory work for the winning goal by Florian Neuhaus (49th).

"We scored the goals exactly as we had imagined," said Hofmann, who kept coming up behind the vulnerable Bayern defense and is so important for Flick's feared switching game. "He's an important factor for us with his depth in the game. We missed him in December," said Rose.

Praise for Hofmann's "world class"

After Hofmann's muscle torn in his thigh in November, Rose's team dropped many points unnecessarily, especially in the league. Gladbach won only one of six games without Hofmann. Since the 28-year-old has been back, he has also won again. Gladbach won in his first Bundesliga game from the start after his injury break at 1-0 in Bielefeld a week ago. Hofmann prepared Breel Embolo's winning goal.

Especially in connection with captain Lars Stindl, Hofmann works perfectly again straight away. Victory goalscorer Neuhaus praised the two outstanding passes from Stindl, who has been in top form for weeks, in front of both Hofmann goals as "world class". For the captain it was especially important to have "finally brought such a close lead over the time" "against such a top opponent".

At the end of the old year – still without Hofmann – that had too often not succeeded. In view of the many points that Borussia left behind, the win against Bayern was eminently important. "It's a game and a result that should give you a boost," said coach Rose. With 24 points from 15 games and the two opening wins in the new year, his team is back at the European Cup.