Stuttgart’s home lights could not prevent Borussia Mönchengladbach from finding a first way out of their early-season gloom on Friday, as the five-time German champions won 3-2 after arriving without a point from six Bundesliga matches.
Gladbach had also conceded 20 goals before travelling to Baden-Württemberg, and their latest difficult night appeared to be taking familiar shape when Ermedin Demirovic scored for Stuttgart in the sixth minute.
Quick facts
- Borussia Mönchengladbach recorded their first Bundesliga win of the season.
- They beat Stuttgart 3-2 away from home after losing their opening six league matches.
- Joe Scally, Shuto Machino and 17-year-old Wael Mohya scored for Gladbach.
- Demirovic scored twice for Stuttgart, including the opener and a late second goal.
- Gladbach remain bottom of the table, while Stuttgart are 14th and one point above the relegation places.
The visitors responded before the interval through United States defender Joe Scally. His third goal of the campaign brought Gladbach level seven minutes before half-time and changed the mood of a side still searching for its first points.
Six minutes after the restart, Shuto Machino put Gladbach ahead. The away side then gave themselves breathing room midway through the second half when Mohya headed in.
It was the second goal in two matches for Mohya, the 17-year-old who has quickly made an impact during Gladbach’s troubled opening to the season.
Demirovic struck again with seven minutes remaining to cut the deficit, but Stuttgart could not force an equaliser. The result leaves the hosts in 14th place on goal difference, only a point clear of the relegation zone.
Gladbach’s first success has not yet lifted them from last place, but in Stuttgart it delivered a rare measure of relief after six defeats and a defensive record that had already made their start one of the Bundesliga’s bleakest.
