Monchengladbach 4 - 0 VfB Stuttgart: Borussia Monchengladbach boost European hopes by thrashing Stuttgart

Posted Thursday, March 03, 2016 by PA

Borussia Monchengladbach kept up their push for a place in the Champions League next season with a 4-0 win over Stuttgart which effectively ends their opponents' slim hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.

Thorgan Hazard gave Gladbach the lead in the 16th minute when he turned in Fabian Johnson's low cross from the right.

Lars Stindl should have added a second 20 minutes later, but he missed an open goal after Raffael had rounded Stuttgart goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton, while the woodwork prevented Hazard from adding a second just before the interval with Tyton turning his shot onto the underside of the crossbar.

Raffael added a second on the hour mark as Gladbach's dominance was finally reflected in the scoreline, before Patrick Herrmann, back on the field for only the second time after a long injury absence, made it three only seconds after coming on.

An own-goal from Kevin Grosskreutz compounded Stuttgart's woes as they were beaten for the second game in a row, all but ending any slim hopes they had of getting into the race for a place in Europe next season.