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Monchengladbach Beat Dortmund 1-0 to Secure Bundesliga Safety

Borussia Monchengladbach secured their Bundesliga status with a 1-0 home win over Borussia Dortmund. Haris Tabakovic scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute after a VAR review overturned an offside call. The victory ended Gladbach's five-game winless run and left them beyond reach of the bottom three. Dortmund missed the chance to seal second place, staying five points ahead of RB Leipzig.

Key Points: Gladbach Beat Dortmund 1-0 to Avoid Relegation

  • Gladbach secured Bundesliga safety with 1-0 win over Dortmund
  • Haris Tabakovic scored late winner in 88th minute
  • Goal initially disallowed but overturned by VAR
  • Dortmund missed chance to seal second place
2 min read

Monchengladbach beat Dortmund to secure Bundesliga safety

Haris Tabakovic scored late to give Borussia Monchengladbach a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, securing Bundesliga survival with two games left.

"The defeat really annoys me because we did not show what you have to show in a Bundesliga match. - Niko Kovac"

Berlin, May 4

Borussia Monchengladbach secured their place in the Bundesliga for another season after Haris Tabakovic scored late to earn a 1-0 home win over Borussia Dortmund.

The victory left 11th-placed Gladbach beyond the reach of the bottom three with two matches remaining and ended a run of five games without a win. Dortmund, which could have sealed second place with success, stays five points ahead of third-placed RB Leipzig with a far superior goal difference.

Coach Eugen Polanski made one change from the 0-0 draw at VfL Wolfsburg, bringing in 17-year-old Wael Mohya for the suspended Jens Castrop. Niko Kovac started 18-year-old Luca Reggiani for the foot-injured Ramy Bensebaini after the 4-0 win over SC Freiburg.

Gladbach settled quicker after a scrappy opening. Joe Scally had the first attempt in the 19th minute, and Nico Elvedi soon volleyed in from a Stoger free-kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Elvedi also headed wide before Tabakovic was stopped by Gregor Kobel from close range.

Dortmund produced little before the break, with Samuele Inacio forcing only a routine save from Moritz Nicolas in stoppage time. Gladbach remained sharper after the interval, Tabakovic prodding just past the left post in the 48th minute after a driven ball from Honorat.

Dortmund improved without taking control. Julian Brandt, Julian Ryerson, Inacio, Marcel Sabitzer and Fabio Silva all missed chances, while Yannik Engelhardt and Rocco Reitz failed to punish Dortmund's profligacy.

Reitz then unlocked Dortmund's defense with a through ball in the 88th minute, sending Tabakovic clear on goal. The striker kept his composure in front of Kobel and rolled the ball into the bottom right corner.

The effort was initially disallowed for offside, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review, leaving Gladbach to see out the closing moments and celebrate survival with two games to spare.

"The defeat really annoys me because we did not show what you have to show in a Bundesliga match. Gladbach showed us today the intensity you need to play with if you want to take points in the Bundesliga," said Niko Kovac.

Elsewhere, Mainz secured Bundesliga survival as goals from Philip Tietz and Philipp Mwene sealed a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened St. Pauli, while Freiburg snatched a late 1-1 draw to deepen Wolfsburg's relegation worries.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
I feel for Dortmund fans, but leaving chances like that is criminal. Reitz's through ball was world-class though—Gladbach's young players really stepped up. The VAR drama at the end just added to the excitement. Indian Super League could learn from this intensity! 🇮🇳⚽
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Michael C
Kovac's comments are spot on—Dortmund just didn't show up today. Gladbach played like their lives depended on it, which is exactly what a relegation battle demands. Disappointing from a team that could have secured second place. Bundesliga never fails to deliver drama!
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Vikram M
As someone who follows European football from India, I love these survival stories. Tabakovic's goal was a thing of beauty—the way he kept his nerve after all that VAR delay. Gladbach fans must be over the moon. Also nice to see Mainz safe too. Relegation battles are what make leagues exciting! 🎉
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Sarah B
Good win for Gladbach, but Dortmund's wastefulness is concerning. They had all the chances in the second half but couldn't finish. Kovac needs to address this if they want to challenge next season. On a positive note, the VAR system worked correctly here—reversed the wrong offside call quickly.
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Nikhil C
Where do Dortmund go from here? They've been inconsistent all season. Gladbach fully deserved this—they showed more hunger and fight. That's what Indian football needs more of: players who give everything for the shirt. Tabakovic and Reitz were outstanding today. 💪⚽

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