Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 1-0 Hofmann 4' (assist: Plea), 2-0 Thuram 25' (assist: Plea), 2-1 Tomas 35' (assist: Sosa), 3-1 Herrmann 90'+4 (assist: Kone)

Jonas Hofmann returned to Gladbach’s starting line-up after a three-week absence with a shoulder injury – and immediately showed the home crowd what they’d been missing. Scampering into the box with just four minutes on the clock, the Germany international swept in Plea’s left-wing cross for the opener. Plea was involved again midway through the half when the hosts doubled their lead, his outside-of-the-boot pass dissecting the visiting rearguard and finding Thuram, who made no mistake from 12 yards. Stuttgart refused to give in though, and scored an eye-catching goal of their own to get a foothold in the game when Borna Sosa scurried in from the left flank and found Thiago Tomas, who bamboozled Marvin Friedrich with a stunning turn before curling the ball in at the far post.

If the first half gave the impression that almost every attack ended with a goal – or at least a presentable chance – the opposite was initially true after the interval. Both teams continued to get forward at every opportunity, but the killer pass was lacking in the final third. Thuram had the first real opening of the half on 70 minutes, but miscued his shot – and Gladbach’s failure to kill the game off only fanned the flames of Stuttgart’s belief that they could make a comeback. Waldemar Anton headed wide from a corner while Chris Führich had the home fans biting their nails with a jinking run into the box, only to be crowded out before he could get a shot away. Serhou Guirassy had the equaliser on his toe in the closing stages when he met Tomas’ cross from the right, but Sippel produced a jaw-dropping reaction save to keep it out. Substitute Patrick Herrmann ensured all three points stayed at Borussia-Park with the last kick of the game, drilling in on the counter from Kouadio Kone's pass.

BMG M'gladbach M'gladbach - VFB Stuttgart VfB Stuttgart

Thuram on target as Gladbach edge Stuttgart