Borussia Monchengladbach ensured their spot in the Bundesliga for another season by defeating Borussia Dortmund 1-0 at home, with Haris Tabakovic scoring late in the game. This victory, with two matches left, placed Gladbach in the 11th position, beyond the threat of relegation, ending a streak of five winless games. Meanwhile, Dortmund, aiming for second place, remains five points ahead of RB Leipzig with a significantly better goal difference.
Coach Eugen Polanski made a strategic change from their previous match, introducing 17-year-old Wael Mohya in place of the suspended Jens Castrop. On the other hand, Niko Kovac opted for 18-year-old Luca Reggiani due to Ramy Bensebaini’s injury, following their 4-0 victory over SC Freiburg.
Gladbach started strong after a slow beginning, with Joe Scally making the first attempt in the 19th minute. Despite Nico Elvedi’s goal being disallowed for offside, Gladbach continued to press, with Tabakovic being denied by Gregor Kobel. Dortmund struggled to make an impact in the first half, with only a routine save from Moritz Nicolas off Samuele Inacio’s shot.
After the break, Gladbach remained dominant, with Tabakovic narrowly missing a chance in the 48th minute. Dortmund showed improvement but failed to seize control, missing several opportunities through players like Julian Brandt, Julian Ryerson, and Fabio Silva. Rocco Reitz’s precise pass in the 88th minute set up Tabakovic for the winning goal, initially disallowed for offside but later confirmed after a VAR review.
Niko Kovac expressed disappointment in Dortmund’s performance, acknowledging Gladbach’s intensity in the match. In other Bundesliga results, Mainz secured their spot in the league with a 2-1 win over St. Pauli, while Freiburg held Wolfsburg to a 1-1 draw, increasing Wolfsburg’s relegation concerns.
