Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach put four past Hoffenheim

Borussia Monchengladbach kept up their push for a place in the Champions League next season with a convincing 4-1 win at Hoffenheim, whose own European hopes were dealt a blow.

Sven Schipplock gave the hosts the lead somewhat against the run of play, but Max Kruse levelled from the penalty spot before Patrick Herrmann gave Gladbach the lead.

Raffael added a third before Herrmann struck again to keep Lucien Favre's men two points clear of fourth-placed Leverkusen, who also won on Saturday.

Gladbach were on the front foot from the off in Sinsheim with Herrmann, fresh from signing a new contract until 2019, leading their early attacks.

Hoffenheim resisted and took the lead against the run of play in the 17th minute when Brazil international Roberto Firmino squared for Schipplock to finish off a counter-attack that even Gladbach would have been proud of.

Herrmann thought he had levelled within five minutes, but his goal was ruled out by the referee amid confusion from the players, with no offside flag raised.

All was revealed during the minutes in which David Abraham was receiving treatment for a clash with Fabian Johnson in the build-up to the goal, as the referee ultimately pointed to the penalty spot.

Kruse sent Oliver Baumann the wrong way and Gladbach were indeed on level terms.

Granit Xhaka struck the outside of the right-hand post as the visitors increased the pressure, taking the lead after half an hour with Herrmann this time not denied his goal from Oscar Wendt's cross.

Five minutes later, Raffael added a third from Kruse's pass - a third goal in 10 minutes effectively killing Hoffenheim off.

Herrmann wiped away any remaining doubts just five minutes into the second half when he netted his second and Gladbach's fourth with Kruse once again the provider in what was turning into something of a show from the Foals.

Hoffenheim tried to salvage some pride, but they were up against a Gladbach side who did not want to give an inch.

They just soaked up the pressure to hold on to victory, even though Anthony Modeste probably should have reduced the arrears when faced with only Yann Sommer to beat in the closing stages.