Borussia Mönchengladbach finally have a Bundesliga win. Alexander Blessin's side, who had lost all six of their league games, came from behind to beat VfB Stuttgart 3-2 at a sold-out MHPArena on Friday night. Joe Scally, Shuto Machino and Wael Mohya scored after Ermedin Demirović's early opener, and Demirović's late header was not enough for Sebastian Hoeneß's side.
Match facts
- Result: VfB Stuttgart 2-3 Borussia Mönchengladbach (half-time 1-1)
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 7
- Venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart
- Scorers: Stuttgart - Demirović 5', 83'; Gladbach - Scally 38', Machino 51', Mohya 66'
- Red cards: None
- Next: Bayer Leverkusen v VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Mönchengladbach v SC Paderborn (Bundesliga), Saturday 31 October, 14:30 UK
How the match unfolded
Hoeneß made six changes from the 1-1 Champions League draw with Atlético Madrid, leaving captain Deniz Undav and Jamie Leweling on the bench, and his side started on top. In the fifth minute Demirović met a headed pass from Dženan Pejčinović and volleyed in from about 25 metres. Moritz Nicolas got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out.
Stuttgart dominated the ball for the next half-hour. Pejčinović flicked a cross into the side netting and Nicolas saved low from Lorenz Assignon, while Gladbach struggled to get out of their own half. The visitors drew level in the 38th minute against the run of play: Zento Uno's volley was heading towards goal when Scally flicked it past Dennis Seimen for his third goal of the season. Before the break Mohya hit the crossbar and Seimen had to save a first-time shot from Florian Neuhaus.
Gladbach went ahead six minutes after the restart. Mohya fought to keep the ball in and pulled it back for Machino, who fired into the roof of the net. Hoeneß responded in the 55th minute by sending on Undav, Leweling and Bilal El Khannouss, and Demirović drove narrowly wide soon afterwards.
In the 66th minute Gladbach scored a third. Mohya's shot squirmed under Seimen, Scally kept the ball alive and scooped it back, and Mohya headed in from close range. Both goalscorers went off injured in the 70th minute, replaced by Yukhym Konoplia and Robin Hack.
Stuttgart had 70 per cent of the ball, according to ESPN, and kept pushing. Nicolas pushed an Angelo Stiller free-kick behind, and in the 83rd minute Demirović headed in Leweling's cross from close range. In stoppage time Nicolas spilled the ball to Undav, but the Stuttgart captain could not keep his shot down.
What it means
Gladbach had made the worst start in the club's history, and no Bundesliga club has ever lost its first seven games, according to the league. Blessin, who was born in Stuttgart and played for VfB's reserve team, had lost his first two league games since his appointment in September. His side move up to three points but remain bottom of the table, two points behind the group of teams above them.
For Stuttgart it is a fifth defeat in seven league games, which leaves them on six points in the bottom half. Leaders Bayern Munich, unbeaten after beating RB Leipzig 6-1, are already eight points clear of Hoeneß's team before the rest of the round is played. Both clubs play in the DFB-Pokal next week before Matchday 8.
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