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Borussia Monchengladbach logo
Pre-season Friendlies
Aug 3, 2019 at 4pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

2-2

Plea (13'), Hofmann (41')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Abraham (59' pen.), Barkley (86' pen.)

Chelsea fight back to register draw with Borussia Monchengladbach

Chelsea fight back to draw with Gladbach
© Reuters
Chelsea fight back from a two-goal deficit to register a 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach in their final pre-season friendly of the summer on Saturday afternoon.

Chelsea ended their pre-season campaign with a 2-2 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday afternoon.

Frank Lampard's side trailed 2-0 at the break courtesy of goals from Alassane Plea and Jonas Hofmann, but Tammy Abraham and Ross Barkley both netted from the spot to earn Chelsea a deserved share of the spoils ahead of next week's Premier League opener against Manchester United.

Monchengladbach started the better of the two teams as Marcus Thuram sent an early low effort wide of the post, although it did not take long for Chelsea to pose a threat at the other end.

A cross from Cesar Azpilicueta was headed wide by Mason Mount, while Abraham failed to take advantage of some good fortune inside the box, with Jurgen Sommer making a terrific stop to keep out the frontman.

However, it was Monchengladbach who went in front in the 13th minute as a mistake in the Blues' defence lead to an opportunity for Plea, who was able to fire the ball into the bottom corner.

Chelsea maintained their attacking approach with Pedro firing over from just inside the area, before Sommer remained alert to prevent a close-range effort from Christian Pulisic finding the back of the net.

The Blues remained in the ascendancy towards the end of the first half as Sommer kept out a left-footed strike from Azpilicueta and a low drive from Mount inside the box.

Nevertheless, Monchengladbach were able to double their advantage before the break. A counter-attack led to a pass being played through the Chelsea defence, and Hofmann was able to convert by sending the ball through Kepa Arrizabalaga's legs.

Having resisted the temptation to make alterations to his side, Lampard witnessed his players go back on the front foot after the restart as Mateo Kovacic had a shot kept out by the increasingly impressive Sommer.

The Switzerland international then kept out Abraham's close-range effort with his leg, before making another intervention to prevent Mount from halving the deficit.

However, there was an inevitability about Chelsea getting themselves back in the contest, and they did just that as Abraham sent Sommer the wrong way from 12 yards after Kovacic had been fouled inside the box.

Chelsea failed to kick on after the goal, although there was a reason for Blues fans to get excited as N'Golo Kante made his first appearance during pre-season after injury.

The game entered the final quarter with Lampard hoping that five substitutions would give his team a second wind, but it took until the 80th minute for another clear-cut chance.

However, despite doing well to dispossess a defender, Barkley was denied by Sommer having being left in a one-on-one scenario with the goalkeeper.

There was little that Sommer could do to keep Monchengladbach in front, however, as Chelsea earned a second spot kick after a foul on Mount.

With Abraham off the pitch, Barkley took over responsibility and found the back of the net to cap a strong pre-season campaign for both himself and his club.

BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (4-3-3): Sommer; Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi (Cuisance 76'), Wendt (Beyer 75'); Neuhaus (Embolo 76'), Strobl (Bennetts 76'), Zakaria (Benes 66'); Hofmann (Raffael 76'), Thurman (Hermann 46'), Plea (Johnson 76')

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, Palmieri (Alonso 66'); Kovacic (Kenedy 67'), Jorginho, Mount; Pedro (Kante 72'), Abraham (Barkley 66'), Pulisic (Giroud 67')

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