Borussia Mönchengladbach ended their winless streak in the Bundesliga with a convincing victory over Bochum, thanks to an outstanding performance from Alassane Pléa. Despite a delayed kick-off due to trouble caused by the away fans, Mönchengladbach wasted no time in asserting their dominance on the pitch.
Just two minutes into the game, Franck Honorat hit the post, and Pléa’s effort was deflected off the bar, marking the seventh time this season that Bochum was saved by the woodwork. It was clear that the hosts’ luck could not last forever.
As the half-hour mark approached, Florian Neuhaus scored a smart finish from the edge of the area, set up by Pléa. This goal ended Pléa’s long goal drought, and he didn’t stop there. Just before the halftime whistle, Pléa showcased his pace and trickery as he cut in from the left and fired the ball into the far corner, leaving the Bochum defense helpless.
The second half did not bring any improvement for Thomas Letsch’s side. Pléa had a chance to secure a hat-trick, but goalkeeper Manuel Riemann made a vital save. Neuhaus also missed two rebounds from close range, much to the frustration of the Mönchengladbach supporters.
Riemann continued to stand strong in goal for Bochum, denying Luca Netz’s powerful shot. However, Bochum managed to score a consolation goal as Anthony Losilla found the back of the net after being set up by a brilliant flick from Lukas Daschner.
Although Bochum showed some signs of a potential comeback, they ultimately failed to secure a victory for the sixth consecutive Bundesliga match.