Borussia Monchengladbach took on unbeaten Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga this afternoon, looking to maintain their 100% home record.
Dortmund arrived at Borussia Park in fine from and dominated possession and territory early on, but Gladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a string of saves to keep the game goalless.
Gladbach punished the visitors for wasteful for finishing to take the lead late on through Max Kruse, who scored from the spot after Mats Hummels was sent off for a foul in the penalty area.
Raffael made sure of all three points for the hosts with a second soon after, condemning Jurgen Klopp's side to their first league defeat of the season.
Look back at a pulsating 'Battle of the Borussia's' with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Afternoon European football fans. Thanks for joining Sports Mole fans for what promises to be a fascinating weekend in the Bundesliga, with our focus here on the battle of the Borussia's as Gladbach and Dortmund collide, at where else but Borussia Park!
Dortmund are aiming to maintain their superb start to the Bundesliga this season, which has seen them win six out of seven. Jurgen Klopp's side are still aiming to prove that they can manage the balance of competing on two fronts though, with their only dropped points coming the last time they played following a Champions League game in midweek.
Klopp's side could hardly wish for a sterner test this afternoon, facing a Gladbach side who relish taking on big sides at their Borussia Park home. Lucien Favre's side have won three from three at the fortress so far this season, setting up what promises to be a fascinating clash of styles.
Dortmund have been nothing short of scintillating in their last three games, scoring 10 goals without reply to banish memories of that disappointing defeat to Napoli in the Champions League two weeks ago. The visitors continued that run with a 3-0 over Marseille in midweek and should be full of confidence ahead of a tricky trip to Gladbach today.
One concern for Klopp though is a growing injury list, with Ilkay Gundogan, Sebastian Kehl and Lukasz Piszczek joined on the treatment table by Marcel Schmelzer. Dortmund do have capable alternatives but do not possess the same strength in depth as Bayern, despite a pair of marquee summer signings in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! We have just received word on the starting XI's from Borussia Park, with Jakub Blaszczykowski left out of an unchanged Dortmund side. A full look at both sides will follow shortly.
Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Grosskreutz, Subotic, Hummels, Durm, Bender, Sahin, Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Reus, Lewandowski
Gladbach Ter Stegen, Jantschke, Stranzl, Dominguez, Wendt, Nordtveit, Xhaka, Herrmann, Arango, Raffael, Kruse
Klopp decides to name an unchanged team then, with Aubameyang and Reus continuing out wide in support of Lewandowski, with Mkhitaryan playing through the middle. Erik Durm continues to deputise for the injured Schmelzer at left-back, while Kevin Grosskreutz will do exactly the same on the opposite side.
Gladbach are just about at full strength this afternoon, boosted by the news that Max Kruse has passed a fitness test to start in attack alongside Raffael. Granit Xkaha returns in central midfield, with Christoph Kramer the man to drop out of the side which drew 2-2 at Augsburg last weekend.
PREDICTION! In 55 Bundesliga matches so far this season we are yet to see a single goalless draw, and without wishing to jink it I can't see the 'Battle of the Borussia's' being any different. Gladbach will attack the league leaders and I expect an open match, with Dortmund perhaps able to exploit space on the counter. I'll go for Reus to net for the third time in two matches in a 2-1 win for the visitors.
I must say that the atmosphere at Borussia Park this afternoon looks and sounds magnificent, as the two sides emerge. A reminder that Reus is facing his former club this afternoon, so expect the winger to be singled out for some special treatment by a passionate home crowd!
Here we go then at Borussia Park, with Dortmund getting us underway shooting from right to left. The visitors are quick to settle in possession, before Xhaka heads away a a pass intended for Grosskreutz out wide.
Another long diagonal early on from Dortmund sees Lewandowski search for Aubameyang, but despite his considerable pace the ball drifts long for a goal kick.
Gladbach press forward for the first time down the right as Jantschke bombs beyond Herrmann, with the ball eventually falling for Arango to blast over from range. That flank could be an area for the hosts to target this afternoon!
SHOT! Reus threatens for the first time against his old club, seizing on a miscue from Stranzl in his own area. The defender is quick to recover and close down the strike, which takes a deflection to loop up and over the crossbar.
Lewandowski wins a rather fortunate corner kick as he toes the ball away from Ter Stegen, but Gladbach get bodies back and comfortably clear when the corner comes in. Gladbach are yet to settle in possession.
Sahin is the latest player to pick out Aubemeyang on the right flank for Dortmund, with the forward using his pace to cut inside and send a looping cross into the penalty area. Lewandowski attempts to meet the delivery but collides with Stranzl, conceding a free kick.
Xhaka concees a free kick just around 25 yards from goal are after barging into the back of Lewandowski, who has been heavily involved early on. Sahin decides to take it on and curls just over the crossbar, but his strike was never troubling Ter Stegen.
Dortmund continue to probe but are yet to find a killer pass, as Sahin switches intelligently to Durm. His cross towards the near post is cleared by Stranzl, with Kruse working heard to keep the ball in play out wide.
SAVES! Ter Stegen has just produced a magnificent double stop from point-blank range to keep the game goalless. Hummless was the player who simply had to score after finding himself clear inside the area to tap home on the rebound, but at full stretch Ter Stegen got his body in the way to produce a world-class stop!
Gladbach are maintaining their shape and discipline well, sitting deep and waiting to set Kruse clear on the counter. A strong challenge from Dominguez on Lewandowski achieves just that, but Durm is able to dispossess Herrmann to break up a promising counter.
Durm is involved again as he finds space to cross out wide, with Grosskreutz following to smash a piledriver into traffic in a speculative effort that required a strong hand to clear from Ter Stegen.
Dortmund should really be ahead after Reus got lucky with a ricochet to wriggle through no less than three Gladbach defenders. Reus waited for the keeper and did everything right by cutting back across goal, but Dortmund could not get anyone in support for a tap-in. Gladbach breathe a sigh of relief there!
Gladbach threaten with purpose for the first time on the counter as Herrmann uses his pace to stride clear, with his pass taking a bounce before narrowly failing to fall for Raffael inside the penalty area.
Aubameyang makes a wonderful run inside to meet a clever pass between central defenders from Reus, but is just forced too wide for his strike to find the target. This game is finally starting to open up with space at both ends!
Mkhitaryan has been relatively quiet thus far but attempts to change that, driving a speculative cross-come-shot through the penalty area. Dortmund quickly come forward again through Reus, who glides beyond his marker before aiming a low shot just beyond the far post.
YELLOW CARD! Grosskreutz is absolutely livid as a throw-in decision goes against him, despite the ball clearly hitting Arango's back. He takes his fierce protests to far though, picking up a caution after berating the official.
The challenges are coming in thick and fast now as the intensity of the match takes a notable step up. Aubameyang keeps a cool head to win a corner kick, but once again the delivery from a Dortmund set-piece is a disappointment.
SAVE! Gladbach have Ter Stegen to thank for parity as he makes another strong stop, parrying Mkhitaryan's powerful effort just as it looks destined for the bottom corner.
Hummels comes out of defence to make a superb interception, helping the visitors win a corner kick off Wendt. Reus goes across to take and finds Lewandowski, but the forward miscues with his header and completely misses the target.
HALF TIME Gladbach 0-0 Dortmund
Much to the relief of Gladbach the referee decides there is no added time, giving the visitors a breather after a tough first half. Favre's side have dug deep to stick with Dortmund but have Ter Stegen to thank for the game still being goalless at the interval.
Gladbach have been forced to sit deep by a Dortmund side who have dominated possession and territory. Rues, Mkhitaryan and Aubameyag are beggining to click behind Lewandowski, but so far Gladbach have just about contained them to strikes from range.
Another features of Dortmund's play this afternoon has been how high the full-backs have played. Durm and Grosskreutz have looked to overlap at every opportunity, bombing on to leave Gladbach outnumbered on the flanks consistently.
BENCH WATCH! If the score remains goalless both managers have exciting options at their disposal in reserve. Dortmund are likely to call on Błaszczykowski or young striker Hofmann, while Gladbach have Dutch international forward Luuk de Jong waiting in the wings.
Both teams are back out at Borussia Park, can either side make sure that this clash does not finish as the Bundesliga's first goalless draw of the campaign? We are about to find out!
Gladbach get the second half underway shooting from right to left, but quickly pass back to Ter Stegen as the goalkeeper smashes out of play. Favre's side are normally far more assured in possession it must be said.
It doesn't take long for Ter Stegen to be involved again as he catches an early strike from Reus, before Hummels is forced to slide to block Arango's strike and put behind for a corner kick at the other end.
Weidenfeller is out to claim for the first time this afternoon as Dominguez looked to make contact with a flick header across goal from Gladbach's corner kick. Finally some signs of encouragement in the final third for the hosts.
Dortmund break with plenty of room as Reus comes forward, checking his run before passing back to Sahin. The visitors just decide to keep possession and take the sting out a home revival early in this second half.
We have a break in play for Mkhitaryan to receive treatment after going down under a strong challenge from Xhaka. The Armenian is fine to continue but Klopp is not happy, shouting from the touchline with a furious expression on his face.
Dominguez has come off worse after bringing down Lewandowski in a desperate lunge on the halfway line. Hard to have sympathy for the defender there and Klopp certainly doesn't, exchanging more words with the fourth official as the defender gets medical attention.
SUBSTITUTION: Dominguez looks to have dislocated his shoulder and has to come off on a stretcher. That forced Gladbach into a change in central defence, with Brouwers the player introduced.
Aubameyang just slips as he looks to break clear on goal, forced to check his run just as he wanted to pull the trigger. Gladbach recover to scramble clear, surviving once again thanks to a touch of fortune at the back.
CHANCE! A glorious Gladbach break gives the hosts their best opening of the match by some distance. Kruse did the hard work by breaking clear out wide, finding space to cross for Wendt. The full-back has burst forward but cannot direct his effort on goal, skewing wide from 12 yards.
Reus tries a curling effort from fullt 30 yards, with his effort dipping under the crossbar and forcing a tip over the top from Ter Stegen. Surely this match is not going to end goalless?
An excellent sliding challenge from Stranzl stops Reus marching into the penalty area. The Austrian has been excellent this afternoon, but the job is far from done yet for a spirited Gladbach rearguard.
SUBSTITUTION: Dortmund have made an attacking change as Hofmann comes on to replace Sven Bender. The youngster has come on in an advanced midfield position and will look to get forward far more than Bender or Sahin.
Raffael comes forward for the hosts and exchanges passes with Herrmann, but his cross can only find Grosskreutz as he clears at the far post. Just over 15 minutes now for either side to break the deadlock!
Aubameyang's heavy touch just allows Ter Stegen to come and claim as Dortmund's frustrations in the final third continue.
SUBSTITUTIONS Both sides make a change as Dortmund swap Błaszczykowski for Mkhitaryan in midfield. Gladbach have also made a positive mood out wide, with Hrtoga taking Hermann's place on the right flank.
PENALTY TO GLADBACH! The hosts have been awarded a spot kick as Hummers is penalised for bringing down Nordtveit in the box. The defender has also been shown a straight red card!
GOAL! Gladbach 1-0 Dortmund (Kruse)
Kruse confidently sends Weidenfeller the wrong way to break the deadlock, scoring his fifth goal of the season. What a moment for Gladbach, who have rode their luck and now have the lead. Hummels can have little complaints with the dismissal, after mistiming his challenge in the box.
Gladbach make an instant change after going ahead, with Kramer brought on to shore things up in midfield. Dortmund have just four minutes plus added time to avoid their first league defeat of the campaign.
OFF THE CROSSBAR! Stranzl has just picked up a yellow card for smashing into Reus as he strode into the final third. Reus takes himself and smashes towards the top corner, beating Ter Stegen but seeing his effort crash back off the crossbar. So unlucky!
GOAL! Gladbach 2-0 Dortmund (Raffael)
Game set and match for Gladbach as Raffael takes advantage of gaping holes to smash in at the near post. This is a result that will send shockwaves around the Bundesliga this afternoon!
Lewandowski gets booked for showing frustration in an elbow on Stranzl as we head towards stoppage time. Gunter has replaced Sahin for the visitors, who have three additional minutes to respond.
FULL TIME Gladbach 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
Well what a finish to the 'Battle of the Borussia's', as Gladbach are largely outplayed but end come up beating Dortmund 2-0 late on. That is the first time Klopp's side have tasted defeat in the league this season, with a late foul by Hummels proving the decisive moment.
That just about brings to an end Sports Mole's coverage from Borussia Park, on a terrific afternoon for Gladbach, and of course Dortmund's title rivals Bayern Munich. Thanks for joining us and be sure to stay tuned all weekend for comprehensive coverage from across the continent's biggest games. Good afternoon!
