Gladbach secure Bundesliga survival with late win over Dortmund

Borussia Mönchengladbach guaranteed their place in next season’s Bundesliga with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Sunday evening. 

Haris Tabaković scored a dramatic late winner, denying Dortmund the chance to secure second place behind Bayern Munich.

Eugen Polanski’s side entered the match knowing a win would create an unassailable gap over the relegation playoff spot with only two fixtures remaining.

From the kick-off, Gladbach showed greater intent and purpose. Franck Honorat posed constant threats on the right wing, while Joe Scally delivered dangerous runs and crosses from the left. 

As early as the seventh minute, Scally nearly set up Tabaković, but Dortmund cleared the danger.

The hosts thought they had broken the deadlock in the 25th minute when Nico Elvedi volleyed home Kevin Stöger’s free-kick, only for the assistant’s offside flag to cancel the celebrations. 

Gregor Kobel later produced an excellent save to deny Tabaković after the striker met Rocco Reitz’s low cross. 

Yannik Engelhardt then headed just wide from Honorat’s corner shortly before half-time.

Dortmund offered little in attack, managing only a tame Samuele Inácio shot in first-half stoppage time, comfortably saved by Moritz Nicolas.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Tabaković went close again in the 48th minute, turning Honorat’s cross wide under pressure. 

As Dortmund improved slightly, Fabio Silva sent a shot narrowly over the bar, but they created few clear opportunities. 

Gladbach kept pushing, with Engelhardt’s dipping strike whistling just over in the 81st minute.

The decisive moment arrived two minutes from time. Tabaković latched onto Reitz’s perfectly weighted through-ball and finished calmly past Kobel. 

The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but VAR confirmed Tabaković was onside, awarding the strike and triggering wild celebrations inside Borussia-Park.

The victory ensures Gladbach’s top-flight status for another season while leaving Dortmund to fight for second place in the remaining matches.