Berlin (AFP) – Brazil striker Raffael scored two second-half goals as Borussia Moechengladbach climbed the German league table on Tuesday after their 2-0 home win at home to Stuttgart.
It was Stuttgart’s first game since captain Christian Gentner suffered multiple facial fractures and concussion in a collision during Saturday’s win over Wolfsburg.
Gladbach’s Raffael opened the scoring by finishing the move he started with a superb 57th minute goal after releasing Nico Elvedi on the wing and firing home the Swiss right-back’s cross.
The game was briefly halted with an hour gone as travelling Stuttgart fans set off flares in the away block which sent smoke across the pitch.
When the game resumed after a three-minute delay, Stuttgart’s Germany defender Dennis Aogo gave away a penalty when he held Belgium forward Thorgan Hazard back in the area with Gladbach on the attack.
The 32-year-old Raffael then slotted his second when he drilled home the spot-kick on 74 minutes.
Mid-table Stuttgart had a string of late chances to get back into the game, but Gladbach held on for only their second win in their opening five games which left them sixth.
Third-placed Bayern Munich have the chance to go top for the first time in the fifth round of matches when the defending champions play Schalke in Gelsenkirchen.
Current leaders Borussia Dortmund play Hamburg away on Wednesday.
