BERLIN (AP) - Borussia Moenchengladbach’s indifferent start to the Bundesliga continued Friday with a scoreless draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.
’Gladbach, which suffered defeats to Manchester City and Barcelona in the Champions League, left it late to trouble the Frankfurt defense and was held to its third draw from nine games. Three wins leaves the side mired in mid-table ahead of the rest of the ninth round.
“We’re missing a few players up front and we’re playing every three days,” coach Andre Schubert said after his side’s fourth consecutive league game without a win. “Because of the absences we weren’t able to make any changes. The guys are doing all they can; they keep going, they keep trying.”
Defenses had the upper hand in the first half. Facing his former side, Frankfurt forward Branimir Hrgota came closest midway through when he hit the outside of the net from a narrow angle.
’Gladbach defender Jannik Vestergaard was forced to head Bastian Oczipka’s goal-bound volley away before the home side upped the tempo with around 20 minutes to go.
Frankfurt midfielder Omar Mascarell almost turned the ball into his own goal, and then goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky deflected Oscar Wendt’s strike onto the crossbar in what was ’Gladbach’s best opportunity.
Frankfurt, with four wins and three draws, moved sixth.
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