Match Analysis: MGladbach & Palermo Home Runs Halted

WhoScored’s regular weekly look at those significant streaks that have come to an end over the past weekend sees us focus on the Bundesliga and Serie A this time round. In Germany’s top-flight, MGladbach suffered a home defeat for the first time this season, going down 2-1 at the hands of Hoffenheim, while over in Italy, Palermo drew at home for the first time this term, in a 1-1 stalemate with Udinese.

Off Day for Arango as MGladbach Slip Up - Match Report

With eight wins and five draws in their first thirteen home games, MGladbach had made Borussia-Park something of a fortress this season. Up against a Hoffenheim side with a single point from their previous three fixtures, MGladbach were overwhelming favourites on Saturday afternoon but, despite taking a first-half lead through Marco Reus, the hosts slipped to an unexpected defeat, thanks to a couple of late goals from the visitors.

MGladbach bossed the game, with 55% possession of the play; this was superior to their home average of 53.6% so far this term. Attacking down the left flank 37% of the time, winger Juan Arango made 56 passes and left-back Filip Daems produced 51 passes, though both were disappointing creatively; they produced just a single key pass each, without managing a successful dribble between them. Arango, in particular, was poor in distribution, with just 66% of his passes finding their target.

Playing in a 4-3-3, Hoffenheim’s left winger Sejad Salihovic created the highest number of goalscoring opportunities, with 3 key passes from a total of 30 and, with 4 crosses also provided from out wide, he picked up an assist in the 2-1 win.

In terms of defensive output, the hosts also came out top for tackles, by 22 to 20. MGladbach’s central midfielder Roman Neustädter was exceptional, with 8 tackles and 4 interceptions. As the Player Position map shows, Neustädter (13) sat deep in front of his back-four, breaking up the visitors’ play time and again.  In contrast, Hoffenheim’s midfield three - Daniel Williams, Sebastian Rudy and Sebastian Rudy – made 10 tackles and 4 interceptions between them.

When it came to shots at goal, the visitors just edged it by 13 to 12, though both sides were woefully inept in terms of accuracy, with a mere 3 efforts each on target. Again, Arango was a letdown for MGladbach; all 4 of his attempts were off target, while front pair Reus and strike partner Igor de Camargo managed 2 shots each, with Reus finding the net with his only effort on target.

As many as five Hoffenheim players had a couple of efforts each, with Boris Vukcevic the only member of either side to manage more than 1 shot on target all game. Indeed, it was Vukcevic who netted the match-winner with 11 minutes left, earning himself the WhoScored man of the match award with a rating of 7.5 for his crucial contribution. The weekend proved doubly disappointing for MGladbach, as a victory for Schalke over Leverkusen saw them drop to fourth and out of the automatic Champions League places.

Palermo Let Off by Di Natale - Match Report

With just 5 points picked up on the road all season, Palermo’s home form has been crucial to their Serie A campaign. The first 14 games had produced 10 wins and 4 defeats – the fourth most impressive home record in Italy’s top-flight – but Palermo were the only side in the league yet to draw in front of their home fans. That all changed last Saturday evening in a 1-1 draw against Udinese, but a look at the WhoScored stats reveals they were more than a little fortunate to escape with a point.

The visitors controlled the game with 60% possession; central midfielders Giampiero Pinzi and Kwadwo Asamoah saw plenty of the ball, producing 61 passes apiece, joint-top for the visitors. As the Player Position map shows, Pinzi (66) and Asamoah (20) were afforded the chance to move forward when in possession, with Michele Pazienza (4) sitting deep in front of Udinese’s back-three. As a result, the pair made 5 key passes each, creating chance after chance for their team mates.

Palermo, on the other hand, made a total of 5 key passes all game; Edgar Barreto was easily their most creative presence, producing 4 of those goalscoring opportunities for the home side from just 36 passes. As the Player Position map highlights, Barreto (5) ventured forward from his role in the midfield five in order to support front pair Abel Hernandez and Fabrizio Miccoli, picking up an assist for the latter’s opener.

In a game relatively low for challenges, the hosts just edged it, making 15 tackles to Udinese’s 12.  Eros Pisano and Federico Balzaretti – playing right and left in the five man midfield respectively –were Palermo’s stand-out defensive performers. Both made 3 tackles, with the latter impressing more in terms of interceptions, by 4 to 3. Udinese’s back-three were kept busy, making 31 clearances between them - Joel Ekstrand showed the greatest resilience in defence, with 3 tackles and 4 interceptions breaking up the home side’s play time and again.

When it came to goal opportunities, the visitors were streaks ahead. Udinese had a superb 23 shots at goal, in comparison to Palermo’s 9, but some wayward shooting meant they managed just 5 on target – only a couple more than their hosts’ total of 3.

For the home side, Fabrizio Miccoli was the main attacking threat; the forward had 6 efforts, finding the net with one of his 2 on target just after the half-hour mark, as Palermo went ahead against the run of play. Udinese left it late to rescue a point and, of all people, it was Antonio Di Natale who proved to be the most culpable in front of goal. Second top goalscorer in Serie A so far with 19 goals, the Udinese forward failed to find the net from an incredible 9 efforts, with 6 of his attempts off target as he suffered a rare off day. With fellow forward Almen Abdi also particularly wasteful – all 4 of his shots off target –  it was left to Gabriel Torje to climb off the bench and grab the equaliser with just six minutes of the match remaining, ending Palermo’s draw-less record at the Stadio Renzo Barbera with just four home games of the campaign remaining.