Monchengladbach stroll to victory

Posted Saturday, October 18, 2014 by PA

Borussia Monchengladbach underlined their status as the main Bundesliga challengers to Bayern Munich this season as they ended Hannover's perfect home record with a 3-0 win at the Niedersachsenstadion.

Max Kruse (two) and Granit Xhaka supplied the goals for Lucien Favre's men, who have yet to lose this season in 13 competitive matches.

As a result, the Foals cemented second spot, four points adrift of Bayern Munich

Hannover came into the game with a proud record of three wins out of three so far at home this season and they started with the confidence one might expect from such a run of form.

Yann Sommer was the busier of the two goalkeepers with Gladbach struggling to get into the opposition half as Hannover, led by the inspired Leonardo Bittencourt, looked for an opening goal.

They could not find it and Gladbach showed them how it should be done with a goal from their first chance of the game in the 15th minute.

Alvaro Dominguez sent in a cross from the left and Germany international Kruse wrong-footed Ron-Robert Zieler with his header going back across him into the left-hand corner.

Hannover tried to respond immediately with Christian Pander's shot only parried by Sommer and Joselu headed the rebound over.

The Reds continued to dictate affairs, but chances were few and far between with the home fans beginning to get frustrated for the first time this season.

Early in the second half, they were stunned to silence as Xhaka drilled in a direct free-kick which Zieler could not see until late, by which time it had already nestled in the back of his goal.

Gladbach grew in confidence in view of their two-goal cushion and they started to create chances to get a third with Dominguez hitting the underside of the crossbar from just a yard out.

Andre Hahn wasted another glorious opportunity for the visitors, but despite beating Zieler with his shot, the ball missed the left-hand post by a matter of inches.

Kruse put the seal on the win in the last minute when Zieler came off his line to challenge Thorgan Hazard, who teed up the Germany international to net with the last kick of the game.