Gladbach inch closer with Bayern win

Borussia Monchengladbach moved to within a point of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga as they completed the double over the record German champions with a 3-1 win at the Borussia Park Stadion. Marco Reus put the home side in front in the 11th minute as he pounced on an embarrassing mistake by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Patrick Hermann added a second just before the break and he then scored the third in the 72nd minute. Bastian Schweinsteiger grabbed a scant consolation for Bayern, who could be joined by Borussia Dortmund and Schalke at the top of the table this weekend. The clash between these two sides on the opening day of the season was decided by a mistake by Neuer on his Bayern debut and another of the Germany No1's all too frequent blunders gifted the home side the lead. He came out of his goal and made a poor clearance, delivering the ball to Reus, who provided a composed finish into the empty net from 35 yards. At the other end of the field, Marc-Andre ter Stegen's performance will have given watching Germany coach Joachim Low food for thought. He made a fine one-handed save to deny Mario Gomez an equaliser in the 14th minute and was at his best to push Arjen Robben's shot over the crossbar later in the first half. Gladbach then showed the strength of their counter-attacking play as they doubled their lead in the 42nd minute. Robben was robbed of possession deep in the Gladbach half and, just two passes later, the ball was in the back of Neuer's net once again. Mike Hanke received possession in midfield and sent Hermann through on goal and the full-back, another player likely to have caught Low's eye, provided a very accomplished finish, sweeping the ball past Neuer into the far corner. Hanke wasted another great counter-attacking opportunity in the 49th minute when he sent his pass too close to Neuer with Arango free to his left. Hermann gave the home team a cushion in the 72nd minute when he scored his second goal after being put through by Reus, who showed no lack of commitment following the announcement of his move to Dortmund at the end of the season. Schweinsteiger's commitment to Bayern has never been doubted and he celebrated some personal joy on his first game back after breaking his collarbone with a goal in the 76th minute. However, there was little else for Bayern to celebrate as their title aspirations were dealt a serious blow.