VfB Stuttgart
Borussia Mönchengladbach
| 0-1 | Hanke | (31. Min) |
| 0-2 | Reus | (81. Min) |
| 0-3 | de Camargo | (84. Min) |
Havard Nordtveit
Stats 
Gladbach snatch the points in Stuttgart
With great expectations, two debutants and a brand new pitch, VfB took on Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday afternoon but, in the end, Bruno Labbadia’s men crashed to a 0-3 defeat and are still awaiting their first points of 2012. The coach made two changes to the side beaten 1-3 by Schalke last weekend, with new signing Vedad Ibisevic replacing Pavel Pogrebnyak and the second VfB debutant, Antonio Rüdiger filling the right full-back role instead of Stefano Celozzi.
It was the home side that got off to the brighter start and Martin Harnik managed to get a shot away after just three minutes, but the effort was easily covered by Gladbach keeper Marc-André ter Stegen. As the match wore on though, it was trainer Lucien Favre’s side that began to take charge. It took until just past the half hour mark, but the visitors were then rewarded for their efforts and Mike Hanke rose to flick home a free-kick delivery from Marco Reus. Shortly before half time, Hajnal brought an excellent save from ter Stegen with a goal bound header, but the home side were still trailing by a goal when the referee blew the whistle for the break.
VfB attacker Cacau: "After conceding the first goal we threw everything into attack and tried to get an equaliser."
Post match comments
Gladbach seal the deal
Again in the second half, VfB had problems going forward, with the last pass failing to find its destination all too often. The guests from Monchengladbach did only what was necessary to keep VfB at bay, with the exception of a couple of hopeful shots from distance. Bruno Labbadia’s men desperately sought an equaliser, but half chances for substitute Julian Schieber and Cacau were all the home side could muster. With the game approaching its closing phase, VfB opened up at the back and were swiftly punished by Borussia.
Hermann played a perfect pass for Reus, who kept his cool to beat Ulreich and make it 2-0. To rub salt into the VfB wounds, in the 84th minute, Hermann broke on the right and squared for Igor de Camargo to slot home, making it 3-0 and sealing VfB’s fate. In the end it was by no means an undeserved defeat for VfB, who had too little punch up front and were then caught wide open at the back.