Brentford XI 1 Borussia Mönchengladbach 2: Donovan nets in behind-closed-doors friendly | OneFootball

A Brentford XI played out a 2-1 behind-closed-doors defeat against Borussia Mönchengladbach at Robert Rowan Performance Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Romelle Donovan was on target for the Bees as more members of Keith Andrews' squad picked up valuable minutes ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

Following a tight opening 10 minutes, Florian Neuhaus nearly opened the scoring for the visitors when his shot from the edge of the area bounced off the top of the crossbar, before Shio Fukuda blazed a half-volley over the bar a few moments later.

The Bees responded with an attack of their own. Patient play saw the ball switch from the left to Mads Roerslev on the right, who then fed Donovan. His cross was headed back into the middle of the box by Jayden Meghoma before Gladbach cleared.

Roerslev and Donovan linked up as Brentford took the lead with just under 20 minutes played. The former latched onto Kristoffer Ajer's ball over the top of the defence before playing the ball inside to Donovan, who cut onto his left foot before squeezing a low shot under Jonas Omlin.

The visitors responded almost instantly with Robin Hack scoring from close range to level proceedings.

And they turned the game around five minutes before the break when Oscar Fraulo's cross was nodded down by Fukuda for Neuhaus to drill into the back of the net.

Ellery Balcombe, introduced for Matt Cox at the break, was called into action early in the second half as he made a smart stop down to his right from Fukuda's bullet header.

Summer signing Antoni Milambo looked a threat at the other end and in quick succession, saw efforts from the edge of the area deflect wide and saved.

Brentford had penalty shouts waved away after a coming together involving Roerslev but the Bees could not find a way back into the game.

Brentford: Cox; Roerslev, Ajer, Pinnock, Hickey; Henderson, Onyeka; Donovan, Milambo, Meghoma, Morgan

Subs used: Balcombe, Owen, Holland, Bennt, Stephenson, Shield, Konak, Arthur

Subs not used: Rose

Borussia Mönchengladbach: Omlin; Castrop (Stange), Friedrich, Chiarodia, Ullrich; Sander, Neuhaus; Herrmann, Fraulo, Hack; Fukuda

Subs used: Stange

Subs not used: Sippel, Michealis, Vidic