Borussia Mönchengladbach moved in to the Champions League spot in matchday 29 with a 2-0 win over relegation threatened Nürnberg and with Bayer Leverkusen losing to the hands of Hamburg. Die Fohlen went into this game in good form, winning four out of their last five games and looked to continue that against Stuttgart
Stuttgart looked to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation battle, a win could’ve helped their push to stay in the Bundesliga for another season.
Early pressure from both sides in the opening ten minutes of the game saw chances fall either way, but the deadlock wasn’t broken. Yet, the away side didn't have to wait long after for the opener. A cross from Daniel Schwaab, was scuffed by Timo Werner and the ball fell perfectly to Daniel Didavi and he smashed it into the top right hand corner of the net. An invaluable one goal lead for Stuttgart. Poor defending by Gladbach put Martin Harnik through one on one with Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but the man whose Barcelona move looks in jeopardy pulled of a brilliant save to keep the score at 0-1.
Another chance for the away side saw the dangerous Traore shoot miles over the bar. A slip in the Gladbach defence let Timo Werner in, but the youngster's shot was saved and the ball was eventually cleared. Gladbach looked shaky all over the pitch and a Stuttgart cross was knocked down to Timo Werner, but his volley flew into the side netting. Gladbach finally managed to find some rhythm, but Favre's men were denied by Sven Ulreich, who pulled off two sensational saves from Arango and Hermann. An entertaining half was made to look rather ordinary by equally fantastic goalkeeping performances at either end of the pitch.
Half time: Borussia Monchengladbach 0-1 VfB Stuttgart.
A good start to the second half from Gladbach, saw Nordtveit shoot just wide of the post. Juan Arango’s costless-kick was punched clear by Ulreich and Dominguez' shot from the right forced the Stuttgart keeper into a fine save. Stuttgart were still a threat and a scramble in the Gladbach box, resulted in die Fohlen’s defence throwing everything at the ball to keep it at 0-1.
Raffael was the hosts best attacking outlet, he took on two defenders but his effort was blocked and went out for a corner. Juan Arango’s resulting header well wide of the target. The Brazilian's shot was then deflected just wide, wrong footing Ulreich and, unfortunately for Galdbach, it wouldn’t fall in the empty net. Great build up play from Favre’s men, meant the ball ended up with Roel Brouwers, but he shot over the bar. The ball fell loose in Stuttgart’s box with ten minutes to go, but star man Sven Ulreich gratefully gathered the bobbling ball.
Ulreich was called into action soon after, but Branimir Hrgota’s attempt on goal was easy for the 'keeper, after the Swede slipped in the process. Stuttgart then had a great chance to make it 2-0 in the dying minutes, but an Ibrahima Traore costless kick crashed against the bar. Just as it looked like the game was petering out for an away win, an in swinging cross from Hrgota, was met by Arango and his flick-on trickled into the net. Ulreich, demoralised, could only look the ball go past him and Gladbach had equalised with just a minute of normal time remaining. The Venezuelan's header a collector's item for the Foals, which rescued them a point.
Full time at Borussia Park: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-1 VfB Stuttgart.
The dropped points by Gladbach means they drop the fifth after Wolfsburg beat Nürnberg 4-1. Gladbach could drop to sixth if Bayer Leverkusen win tomorrow.
The point for Die Roten takes them one point away from the relegation zone and four points off of fourteenth place SC Freiburg, they’re just three points from bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig.