Patrick Herrmann grabbed the first before Branimir Hrgota got the second and finished the game off with a sumptuous chipped goal to make it 3-0 in what turned out to be a comfortable night for the German side.

Both sides coveted the three points coming into this game, for Zürich it was a necessity if they were to progress after results elsewhere - whilst Gladbach needed the three points to confirm their place at the top of the group. The home side made two changes after their narrow 3-2 victory against Hertha BSC, Julian Korb and Max Kruse were replaced by Ozcar Wendt and Hrgota. The away side lost 2-1 against FC Thun at the weekend and as a result made three changes for tonight’s game, Amine Chermiti, Armin Alesevic and Alain Nef were swapped out for Ivan Kecojević, Oliver Buff and Francisco Rodriguez.

An extremely quiet opening 10 minutes was ended by a hopeful long distance effort from Davide Chiumiento that turned out to be his side’s best effort in a poor opening half for the Swiss side. His countryman Yann Sommer easily saved the Swiss midfielder’s effort. Die Fohlen’s first effort came soon after thanks to a horrific back pass from Burim Kukeli from the halfway line straight to Hrgota who ran clear but was unable to get the ball out from under his feet and the Zurich defenders were able to recover and clear the ball away.

Former Zurich player Raffael then wasted a golden opportunity when Ibrahima Traore, who was a threat all throughout the half, pulled it back for him inside the box but the Brazilian leant back and fired over. The pair then reversed roles when Raffael switched the ball out to the right for the Guinean but after controlling it well Traore rushed his shot and put it wide.

The German side’s pressure finally paid off in the 30th minute thanks to a huge deflection. Hrgota was about 35 yards out when his pass out wide was deflected straight into the path of Herrmann who was in the clear and rounded the keeper before slotting home. Hrgota then had a shot of his won from distance that went just wide only three minutes later.

In the middle of the park Christoph Kramer and Granit Xhaka controlled the game and the latter produced a sumptuous run in the 37th minute that carved through the midfield of the opposition before he played out wide to Traore who cut inside and hit the post with a low, curled effort. Herrmann then had a couple of efforts of his own to round off the half, the first a shot from a tight angle saved easily and the second a run inside followed by a shot from the edge of the box that went just over.

The second 45 began much the same as the first with a very quiet opening period which this time was ended with a second goal for the home side. A wonderful exchange between Hrgota and Raffael put the Brazilian inside the box where he pulled it back for Hrgota to tap home easily to put his side 2-0 up. They didn’t have to wait long to make it three. Only a few minutes after his first goal of the night Hrgota grabbed his second after a superb through ball from Xhaka put the Swede clear and he lifted it beautifully over the keeper.

Traore kept up his brilliant display in the second half with a number of efforts, the best of which came in the 65th minute when once again he cut inside Nico Elvedi before his attempt, which had David da Costa beaten, went just past the near post. A number of substitutions followed for both sides. First Lucien Favre decided to bring off Raffael and Patrick Herrmann for Max Kruse and Thorgan Hazard before Urs Meier brought off Franck Etoundi and Francisco Rodriguez for Amine Chermiti and Maurice Brunner who joined his brother Cedric who had joined the game in the first half.

The substitutions were pretty much the last noteworthy event of the game as Zurich’s play repeatedly broke down in the final third resulting in no outstanding chances. Kramer picked up a knock towards the end but he managed to reach the end of the match.