Borussia Mönchengladbach won with less ball and far better chances

Ermedin Demirović put Stuttgart ahead early and they held the ball, but Borussia Mönchengladbach came back to win 3-2 with the better chances.

Ermedin Demirović put Stuttgart ahead after five minutes, with Dženan Pejčinović providing the assist. Borussia Mönchengladbach then spent the rest of the match turning that around on far less of the ball. They had 30% of possession, well below their usual 48.7%, yet they left with a 3-2 win. The reason lies in the chances. Expected goals is a measure that adds up how likely each shot was to go in, and Borussia Mönchengladbach reached 2.66 on this measure, against an away average of 0.77.

Joe Scally levelled on 38 minutes, with Zento Uno providing the assist, and the visitors went in front early in the second half through Shuto Machino, set up by Wael Mohya. Mohya then scored the third himself on 66 minutes, with Scally again providing the assist. He finished with a goal and an assist, and a rating of 8.5, the highest in the match. He was substituted on 70 minutes, with the game already in the visitors' hands.

Stuttgart had 70% of the ball, well above their home average of 54.5%, but their chances were not better than usual. Their expected goals figure was 1.47, slightly below their home average of 1.61. The ball did not turn into chances in the way the possession suggested it might. Demirović was the home side's main threat, and his second goal, on 83 minutes, with Jamie Leweling providing the assist, was the only response they had.

Stuttgart scored twice, which is above their home average of 1.3 goals, but they also conceded three, against an average of 1.7 at home. Their home defence usually allows a chance count of 2.43, and this time the visitors created considerably more than that. The problem for the hosts was not only the finishing at the other end but the number of openings they gave up in their own box.

Borussia Mönchengladbach had 16 shots, above their away average of 14.5, and six of them were on target. Stuttgart managed five on target from their 15 attempts. Shots on target matter because they force a save or a goal, and the visitors put more of their efforts into that category. Demirović had four shots of his own, two of which went in, and he was the only home player to find the net twice.

Four Borussia Mönchengladbach players were booked, against two for Stuttgart, and nobody was sent off, so the numbers on the pitch stayed level throughout. Stuttgart are 13th in the table with six points from six games. Borussia Mönchengladbach are 18th with none, having lost all six, and in the recent results list the six-match run of defeats ends here.

Player of the matchW. Mohya1 goal · 1 assist8.5

E. Demirović2 goals8.1

S. Machino1 goal7.7

J. Scally1 goal · 1 assist7.7