Borussia Monchengladbach moved another step closer to clinching Champions League football by recording a 4-1 triumph over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
It was Hoffenheim who broke the deadlock 17 minutes into the game as Brazilian playmaker Roberto Firmino found the space to pick out Sven Schipplock, who fired home a low effort.
An impressive start from the home side was quickly forgotten as Monchengladbach were gifted a way back into the match when David Abraham tripped Fabian Johnson inside the box.
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Max Kruse stepped up to slot home the penalty and begin a 20-minute spell which handed the visitors full control of the game.
Good work from Oscar Wendt earned Gladbach the lead as his low pass evaded Oliver Baumann and allowed Patrick Herrmann to poke home from a few yards out.
It quickly became 3-1 to the visitors as some more poor marking allowed Kruse to collect the ball before teeing up Raffael, who finished calmly to pile the misery on the home supporters before the break.
Gladbach were happy to operate on the counter in the early stages of the second half, and that approach was rewarded when a break finished with Herrmann sprinting clear to beat a helpless Baumann.
Despite enjoying spells on top in the second half, Hoffenheim were unable to create clear opportunities when it mattered as the visitors recovered impressively from a sloppy start.
Baumann produced a fine save to keep out a curling effort from Ibrahima Traore late on, but his contribution could not prevent the home side from easing to all three points.
Callum Mulvihill
