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Mönchengladbach (dpa) - Max Eberl seemed to want to tell himself again what he had achieved so far for safety reasons.
"Four games, eight points, 14: 4 goals", counted Borussia Mönchengladbach's sports director after the next Champions League gala in a 4: 0 (3: 0) against Shakhtar Donetsk.
"It's an impressive series we're playing."
After four match days, Gladbach is still unbeaten and the front runner in Group B - which also includes Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
«I didn't dream that much before the group stage.
I was just looking forward to it, ”said Gladbach keeper Yann Sommer about the chances that the Bundesliga fourth last season would have given himself to advance in view of the draw.
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Before the final group games, the chance of the first knockout round of the Champions League in the third attempt after 2015 and 2016 is great.
The two outstanding games go against the top clubs from Milan (December 1st) and Madrid (December 9th).
“Everyone knows that we still have two big challenges ahead of us.
These will be two big, tough, beautiful games that we're really looking forward to, ”said Sommer.
It is possible that one point will be enough for the round of 16 next Tuesday against the surprising group bottom Inter.
«We have created a good starting position.
It's in our own hands to reach the round of 16.
We also want to take the chance, ”said coach Marco Rose.
Against the Ukrainian champions, who were completely disappointing and overwhelmed in two games, the efficiency and callousness of his team were impressive, something that has hardly been seen in the Bundesliga so far.
Just three weeks ago, Gladbach Donezk - which at least won at Real Madrid at the start of the Champions League - outclassed 6-0.
"I am sticking to the fact that it is a very strong team, especially in terms of play, that is very well organized," said Rose.
«I am convinced that they would also play a very good role in the German Bundesliga.
We were just very, very strong twice. "
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On Wednesday against Donetsk, this was especially true for captain Lars Stindl, who scored the 1-0 himself (17th minute / penalty kick) and prepared the 2-0 through Nico Elvedi's first Champions League goal (34th).
With a dream pass, the 32-year-old veteran had also staged Marcus Thuram before the foul that led to the penalty.
«He's our captain and has been in very, very good shape for weeks.
He is moving ahead and more than fulfilling his task.
We're very happy to have him, ”said Rose of his match winner.
Breel Embolo provided the highlight of the game before Oscar Wendt's 4-0 (77th).
As on Saturday's 1-1 draw against Augsburg, the Swiss had plenty of simple opportunities to score goals - but the 23-year-old scored his first goal of the season with a very special trick: Embolo hit an overhead kick from the six-yard area.
«He was rewarded with an outstanding goal.
That's the most important thing for a striker, ”said Rose, who praised the striker, who was previously criticized for his chances against Augsburg.
It is possible that Embolos Traumtor came at exactly the right time to remove the jam.
Embolos ex-club FC Schalke 04 will be visiting Borussia-Park on Saturday.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201126-99-467129 / 2