This was not part of the script for Marco Rose's Borussia Monchengladbach.

After dispatching Union Berlin, the natural next step was consolidation of their place in the top four at the Schwarzwald-Stadion.

Freiburg, though, made no compromises for their high-flying opponents as they exercised the giant-killing; inflicting a huge dent in Gladbach's Champions League aspirations.

The first-half was a game of few chances, but an inspired second-half performance from the obdurate hosts provided an emphatic answer to questions surrounding their form since the restart. Suddenly, ambitions of reaching the Europa League places aren't all that fanciful.

Story of the match

The chemistry between the combative duo of Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram was showcased for all to see last Saturday in the 4-1 crushing of Union Berlin.

To see Thuram extend his Bundesliga tally to 10 goals was to elicit little surprise for viewers, but sidekick Plea - with two goals and one assist that day -  is enjoying a stellar season of his own. An understated one at that.

The Frenchman has 20 goal contributions this season - and it was almost 21 after 16 minutes. Lars Stindl scythed the Freiburg defence in two with a perfectly-weighted through ball to Plea, who was smothered by Freiburg keeper Alexander Schwolow. Moments later, Schwolow was equal to the task again as he parried Stindl's effort from range.

Despite conceding a promising chance for the unmarked Luca Waldschmidt in the 8th minute, the visitors had hit their rhythm seamlessly, assuming control of the opening exchanges.  

Freiburg, who have demonstrated their ability to mix it with the best on myriad occasions this season, were content to retreat into their shape. The success of the Bundesliga's biggest overachievers has been built on sturdy foundations, and today was no different. 

They would emerge from their shell as the half progressed, but, in doing so, allowed Gladbach to breach their backline with increasing regularity. The marauding runs of Ramy Bensebaini and Stefan Lainer from full-back positions posed unanswerable issues.

Gladbach even had the ball in the back of the net at once stage, as Florian Neuhaus found the target from a penalty box scramble. The midfielder was adjudged to have been standing in an offside position, cutting Gladbach's celebrations short. 

Freiburg, though, weren't afraid to make their presence felt in Gladbach's half. On the stroke of half time, Lucas Höler drove through the heart of the Gladbach defense, rifling down the throat of Yann Sommer.

Robin Koch's clean volley from distance then skidded wide of the left-post shortly after the interval. Nevertheless, Gladbach were the team with the stronger grasp on proceedings, playing some slick football at times. Philipp Lienhart had to stretch every sinew to prevent Thuram from converting Lainer's fizzed cross in the 53rd minute.

It had seemed inevitable at times that Freiburg's veil of resistance would shatter, but five minutes later, the resolve paid dividends. With his first touch of the game, substitute Nils Petersen headed home a pinpoint Vincenzo Grifo free-kick to give Freiburg an unexpected lead.

It was a major setback for Gladbach, and the ascension would become a whole lot steeper when Alassane Plea then received a second yellow card for an innocuous lunge on Koch. Gladbach's prospects had been completely upended.

Max Eberl, Gladbach's sporting director, would also be dismissed (for dissent) in what was a dramatic turn of events.

Freiburg refused to rest on their laurels as Koch got forward from midfield in the 77th minute. Sommer denied him in front of goal, and would then display impressive reactions to block Höler's downward header at the far post seven minutes later. 

A disconsolate Thuram hid his face in his shirt at the final whistle. His influence had been stifled throughout, though the dejection was not a reflection of his own performance. He knew, as did the rest of the team, that defeats like this weigh heavily come the end of the season.

State of play in the Champions League places

Never before has the need to qualify for the Champions League been so urgent in the Bundesliga, and on few occasions has the race been so tight. 

League leaders Bayern Munich have all but guaranteed their position in UEFA's top competition next season (along with the title), though Borussia Dortmund, who are 2nd on 60 points, and RB Leipzig - who are third on 58 points - will be forced to tussle it out with Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen over the coming weeks, who are both tied on 56 points.

The TV money from the competition will provide financial security and support for clubs next season, which is highly likely to be played behind closed doors, resulting in a substantial loss of matchday revenue. 

The situation is heightened in Germany, where - due to less money being earned from TV rights sales - reliance on matchday income is greater. Monchengladbach, in particular, need financial justification for their relatively vast outlay in the transfer market last summer.

Five doesn't fit into four, though, so someone is going to miss out.