Gladbach leave Augsburg in their wake with win

Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 Augsburg
Goals: 1-0 Kone 30' (assist: Plea), 2-0 Hofmann 46' (assist: Bensebaini), 2-1 Iago 55' (assist: Vargas), 3-1 Bensebaini 67' (assist: Neuhaus), 3-2 Finnbogason 90'+3 (assist: Iago)

In an intense opening 10 minutes, Hofmann hooked Gladbach's first shot wide of the far post before Yann Sommer was called into action by Andre Hahn. Neuhaus then hit an effort into the side netting from Hofmann's pass before another Hahn header had the home fans and Sommer holding their breath. Fortunately for them, it flew just wide of the right-hand upright, but was nevertheless another let-off for the hosts. Breel Embolo chipped an effort past Rafal Gikiewicz and wide of the far post on another attack as the game swung from end to end. The next swing in Gladbach's favour heralded the opening goal, with Alassane Plea sending in a delightful cross for Kone to nod in his second goal of the season. Sommer had to stretch to turn a driver from his Swiss compatriot Ruben Vargas away, before getting down to make another save from Florian Niederlechner, as Gladbach held on to their lead.

The Foals doubled their advantage just 26 seconds into the second half, Hofmann side-footing Bensebaini's cut-back past a chanceless Gikiewicz. Augsburg cut the deficit 10 minutes later when Vargas helped Hahn's cross on to Iago, whose diagonal effort beat Sommer and covering defender Matthias Ginter on the line. Gladbach rolled up their sleeves and re-established their two-goal lead when Neuhaus's cross was headed in powerfully by Bensebaini – his fifth headed goal in the Bundesliga out of a total of 12. Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl used up all his attacking substitutions, with Ricardo Pepi and Alfred Finnbogason on, but while the latter gave the guests some belief with his first away goal since December 2018 deep in stoppage time, Gladbach held on for three important points to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.

• Gladbach ended a run of four home defeats to pick up their first win at Borussia Park since November 2021.
• Augsburg have not led any of their last 17 Bundesliga away games at half-time, while Gladbach led a home game at the break for the first time since November.
• Gladbach's top scorer this season, Hofmann now has a personal best eight goals this term; Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry is the only German player with more goals.
• This was Hofmann's first goal in five games, and only second in 13 meetings with Augsburg.
• Iago opened his account for the season; he has scored one goal in each of his three seasons in the Bundesliga.
• Finnbogason is Augsburg's all-time top-scorer in the Bundesliga with 37 goals.

Watch: Pepi: "We could have won"

Gladbach: Sommer (c) - Ginter, Elvedi, Friedrich - Lainer (Herrmann 84'), Neuhaus, Kone (Kramer 85'), Bensebaini (Netz 85') – Hofmann, Plea (Scally 90'+1) – Embolo (Thuram 80')
Unused subs: Sippel, Beyer, Benes, Jantschke
Out: Doucoure (muscular), Stindl (knee)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Framberger, Gouweleeuw (c), Oxford, Iago - Hahn (Zeqiri 78'), Moravek (Pedersen 63'), Dorsch, Vargas (Sarenren Bazee 68') – Niederlechner (Pepi 63'), Gregoritsch (Finnbogason 68')
Unused subs: Koubek, Uduokhai, Caligiuri, Günther
Out: Gumny (ankle), Jensen (knock), Maier (not included), Strobl (knee)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl