Borussia Dortmund holds a narrow 1-0 lead over Borussia Mönchengladbach at the half-time interval of their Bundesliga encounter, the final Friday night fixture of the calendar year. Julian Brandt’s impressive early strike proved the difference, but the hosts saw their early dominance wane as Mönchengladbach grew into the game during the latter stages of the first half at Signal Iduna Park.

Dortmund exerted significant control over the opening 30 minutes, dictating play with a remarkable 69 percent possession. The Schwarz-Gelben consistently pressed high and launched numerous attacks, often finding openings against a largely passive Gladbach side. The early exchanges highlighted Dortmund’s intent to secure a vital victory that could see them temporarily climb to second place in the league standings.

The breakthrough arrived in the 12th minute through Julian Brandt. A precise diagonal ball from Nico Schlotterbeck initiated the move, finding Marius Wolf on the right flank. Wolf then laid off to Niklas Süle, whose cross into the box was met by Brandt at the left edge of the five-yard area. The attacking midfielder unleashed a spectacular volley that nestled into the right corner of the net, marking a memorable return to the scoresheet for the German international.

Despite their early superiority, Dortmund failed to convert further opportunities to extend their lead. Karim Adeyemi came close to doubling the advantage, but his powerful shot from close range was expertly denied by Gladbach goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. Sébastien Haller also saw a header from a Julian Brandt cross sail wide of the target, illustrating Dortmund’s inability to capitalise fully on their initial offensive flurry.

As the half progressed, Mönchengladbach gradually found their footing and began to pose a threat. The visitors, initially struggling to break out of their own half, started to string passes together and push forward with more conviction in the final fifteen minutes. This shift in momentum forced Dortmund’s defence to become more active, moving away from their earlier comfortable dominance.

Gladbach created several promising situations, testing the Dortmund backline and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Florian Neuhaus had a significant opportunity, but his powerful effort was bravely blocked by Süle, who threw himself in front of the shot. Manu Koné also fashioned a chance after a strong run, finding Rocco Reitz, whose attempt to slot the ball past Kobel was thwarted by the alert custodian.

Pre-match sentiment in Dortmund was mixed following two consecutive draws, coupled with significant personnel challenges, particularly in defence. Manager Edin Terzić made five changes from the previous 1-1 draw against Freiburg, introducing Süle for the absent Ramy Bensebaini (AFCON duty), along with Wolf, Svensson, Adeyemi, and Brandt, replacing Yan Couto, Chukwuemeka, Fabio Silva, and the suspended Jude Bellingham. This fixture also coincided with Borussia Dortmund’s 116th birthday, adding an extra layer of motivation for the home side.

Mönchengladbach, under the guidance of Eugen Polanski, entered the match showing signs of an upward trend, despite a recent 3-1 loss to Wolfsburg. The team showcased impressive away form, having won their last three away matches without conceding a goal. Polanski welcomed back Neuhaus from a muscular injury and Joe Scally from a yellow card suspension, bolstering his starting lineup as Gladbach aimed to temporarily climb to eighth in the league table.

The historical context heavily favoured Dortmund, who had won 18 of their last 19 home encounters against Mönchengladbach. The sole exception was a 2-1 defeat in March 2014. This formidable home record at Signal Iduna Park underscored the challenge facing the Foals as they sought to defy history and snatch points from their hosts.

As referee Sven Jablonski blew the whistle for half-time after two minutes of added time, Dortmund carried their slender lead into the break. The opening 45 minutes provided a tale of two phases: initial Dortmund dominance capped by Brandt’s goal, followed by a period where Gladbach asserted themselves, promising an intriguing second half to come in this crucial Bundesliga clash.

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Keywords: Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bundesliga 2025/26, Julian Brandt goal, football half-time report, Signal Iduna Park, Süle defensive actions, Gladbach resurgence