Thuram back among the goals as Gladbach see off Schalke

Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Neuhaus (15'), 1-1 Raman (20'), 2-1 Wendt (36'), 3-1 Thuram (52'), 4-1 Wolf (80')

Schalke had a couple of early half-chances, with Mark Uth testing Yann Sommer and American debutant Matthew Hoppe trying his luck from a tight angle. But it was hosts Gladbach who forged ahead, when Breel Embolo's attempt was blocked by Frederik Rönnow and Neuhaus squeezed the rebound through a forest of legs for 1-0. The Royal Blues responded in style, though, as Uth picked up a stray backpass from Thuram and scooped a brilliant ball into the path of Benito Raman, who volleyed into the top corner to bring the visitors level. Schalke were suddenly in the ascendancy and Uth grazed the outside of the post with a well-struck free-kick, but a lack of defensive rigour allowed Gladbach to restore their lead on 36 minutes. Neuhaus picked out Wendt's run on the left, and the Swede drilled in his second goal in the space of four days, after netting in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk. Thuram rattled the crossbar from a corner as the hosts finished the half on top, but there was only one goal in it at the interval.

However, it looked like a long way back for Schalke when Gladbach made it 3-1 early in the second half, with a tidy free-kick routine. Matthias Ginter headed Patrick Herrmann's delivery into the path of Alassane Plea, whose shot was blocked by Rönnow – but there was Thuram to bury the rebound from close range. The visitors refused to wave the white flag, with Steven Skrzybski dragging a shot just wide of the target, but Gladbach began to look dangerous every time they went forward. Plea was denied by Rönnow and Thuram squandered a great chance on the counter, before Neuhaus drew a superb one-handed save from the Schalke stopper with a missile from distance. The hosts continued to pour forward, with Herrmann finding the side netting, before substitute Wolf finally swept in their fourth goal after being teed up by Plea. After defeat to Bayer Leverkusen and a draw with Augsburg, Gladbach took three important points to close on the European places, while that's now 25 league games without a win for Schalke, since they beat the Foals on home soil in January.

• Neuhaus has scored in back-to-back Bundesliga games for the first time, having got the opener in last week's 1-1 draw with Augsburg.
• Raman ended a drought of 23 Bundesliga games, scoring for the first time since December 2019 (when he was on target in four consecutive league matches).
• With two goals and two assists, Uth has been involved in four of Schalke's six goals this term.
• Wendt scored his first Bundesliga goal in over a year. Gladbach are unbeaten in all 16 top-flight games in which the 35-year-old has found the back of the net (W15, D1).
• Thuram netted for the first time since Matchday 2. The Frenchman and his compatriot Plea were Gladbach's top scorers in the Bundesliga last term with 10 goals each.
• Wolf has scored two Bundesliga goals - both for Gladbach, both this season, both at home.
• The Foals are unbeaten at home in 2020/21, winning two and drawing three.

Watch: Neuhaus: "I'm very happy at the moment"

Gladbach: Sommer (c) - Lazaro (Lainer 65'), Ginter, Jantschke, Wendt - Zakaria (Kramer 65'), Neuhaus (Benes 81') - Herrmann, Embolo (Stindl 71'), Thuram (Wolf 71') - Plea
Unused subs: Sippel, Lang, Traore, Elvedi
Out: Bensebaini (not included), Hofmann (thigh)
Coach: Marco Rose 

Schalke: Rönnow - Ludewig, Kabak, Nastasic, Thiaw - Skrzybski (Boujellab 81'), Mascarell (c), Serdar, Raman (Schöpf 63') - Uth, Hoppe (Schuler 81')
Unused subs: Langer, Mendyl, Stambouli, Mercan, Bozdogan, Calhanoglu
Out: Bentaleb (not included), Fährmann (groin), Harit (not included), Ibisevic (not included), Kutucu (not included), Matondo (knee), Oczipka (thigh), Paciencia (knee), Sane (knee)
Coach: Manuel Baum

Watch: Hoppe: "I was ready"