Gladbach beaten by second-half Stuttgart comeback

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s final home game of the season ended in a devastating 2-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart on matchday 33 in the Bundesliga. Lars Stindl’s goal had the Foals in front at the break, but a quickfire double saw the visitors take home all three points.

It was a hard-fought first half at BORUSSIA-PARK, with both sides giving little away. Alassane Plea was unable to take advantage of a couple of half openings, with the only real chance of note coming in the final minute of the half. Gladbach made it count though. Christoph Kramer dribbled through the box to the byline and lifted a cross towards the penalty spot, where Lars Stindl produced a brilliant volley to make it 1-0 on the stroke of half time.

The second 45 was playing out in similar fashion to the first, with most of the game being played in midfield. With less than 20 minutes to go, however, a bolt from the blue into the top corner by Wataru Endo suddenly hauled Stuttgart back on level terms (72’). Five minutes later, the Foals were left stunned as the away side completed a turnaround when Sasa Kalajdzic deflected Pascal Stenzel’s shot, leaving Yann Sommer rooted to the spot as the ball fizzed into the back of the net. Fresh legs in attack were unable to produce a late rally and Borussia were beaten 2-1, meaning they will now require help from elsewhere on the final matchday if they are to qualify for the UEFA Conference League.

TEAM NEWS

Marco Rose made three changes to the side beaten in Munich, with Christoph Kramer, Lars Stindl and Alassane Plea returning the starting XI in place of Denis Zakaria, Valentino Lazaro and Breel Embolo. Oscar Wendt came on in the closing stages of the game, marking his final competitive appearance for the Foals at BORUSSIA-PARK before his departure this summer.

Everyone who is part of the quarantine training camp was available for the game, with only Mamadou Doucouré (Achilles), Torben Müsel and Julio Villalba (building fitness) sidelines.

MATCH FACTS

Borussia: Sommer, Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini, Kramer (84’ Wolf), Neuhaus (79’ Zakaria), Hofmann (64’ Lazaro), Stindl, Thuram, Plea (78’ Embolo)

Stuttgart: Kobel, Mavropanos (34’ Stenzel), Anton, Kempf, Endo, Sosa (63’ Churlinov), Massimo, Karazor, Förster (83’ Didavi), Thommy (63’ Castro), Kalajdzic (83’ Ghaddioui)

Goals: 1-0 Stindl (45’), 1-1 Endo (72’), 1-2 Kalajdzic (78’)

Yellow cards: Bensebaini, Zakaria / Förster, Massimo, Castro, Endo

Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Niederkassel)

Attendance: 0