RB Leipzig defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 (1-0) on Saturday, securing a perfect start to the new Bundesliga season. Former Gladbach player Rocco Reitz scored the third goal against his old club, as reported by FAZ Sport.

Gladbach finished the previous season in 12th place with 38 points from 34 matches. A record of nine wins, eleven draws, and fourteen defeats highlights the need for improvement. With 42 goals scored and 53 conceded, their goal difference stood at minus eleven.

How did the match unfold for Gladbach?

The Foals had their chances in the first half. In the 21st minute, RB goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt deflected a shot from Hugo Bolin onto the post. Vandevoordt then cleared the rebound from the line before Tim Kleindienst could reach it. After this promising phase, Leipzig scored. German international Ridle Baku finished a one-two with Tidiam Gomis in the 26th minute to make it 1-0. Gladbach keeper Moritz Nicolas later made several spectacular saves to prevent a heavier defeat. Before halftime, Willi Orban headed against the crossbar.

After the break, Leipzig played more compellingly. Antonio Nusa made it 2-0 in the 49th minute, assisted by a backheel from Tidiam Gomis. Martin Demichelis, managing his first Bundesliga match as Leipzig coach, brought on Christopher Nkunku for Gomis in the 64th minute. Nkunku, on loan from AC Milan to fill the void left by Yan Diomande's move to Real Madrid, made an immediate impact.

Why was Rocco Reitz's goal significant?

The 66th minute provided an emotional moment. Rocco Reitz, who moved from Gladbach to RB Leipzig in the summer, finished a well-executed counter-attack to make it 3-0. The assist came from Christopher Nkunku, who was the Bundesliga top scorer three years ago. Reitz, a product of the Gladbach youth academy, was loudly whistled by the traveling away fans upon his return. His goal celebration was consequently very reserved. For Leipzig, it was an important win in their quest for Champions League qualification, while Gladbach suffered a setback. The club trails record champions Bayern Munich by 51 points in the all-time table.

What are Gladbach's personnel issues?

Beyond the sporting challenge, Gladbach is also dealing with several absences. Players Jens Castrop, Zento Uno, and Yukhym Konoplya are currently injured and unavailable. These absences present an additional challenge for squad planning. Information on the current roster can be found on our squad page. The injury list is available on the injuries overview.

What's next for Gladbach?

Borussia must now prepare for their next fixture. On December 5th, 2026, they face an away match against Bayer Leverkusen, currently sixth in the table. The task is to learn from the clear defeat in Leipzig and show a reaction. The full schedule is available on our fixtures calendar. Coach Martin Demichelis said after the match in Leipzig: "Es ist für mich eine große Ehre. Ich werde versuchen, es zu genießen." For Gladbach, the focus is now on analyzing the mistakes and correcting them with upcoming tasks in mind. The team aims to break the negative trends from the previous season, visible in their recent form over the last five games (WLWDD).