Bruno Labbadia opted not to make any changes to the eleven that began last weekend against Schalke 04. The opening phase of the game was pacy and hard fought, although few clear chances were created. With seventeen minutes played, Harnik latched on to a well weighted through pass from William Kvist, but the striker’s effort went narrowly wide of the post. By midway through the half, VfB were in charge and created a number of openings but were unfortunately unable to turn any of them into goals. There were half chances for Christian Gentner, Tamas Hajnal and Cacau, playing his 250th Bundesliga game, but ter Stegen stood strong in the Gladbach goal and the sides went in at the break locked in stalemate.

Following the re-start, both teams tried their luck with shots from distance but neither was to prove successful initially. Gladbach dropped deep and allowed VfB to come at them. Then, on the break, the hosts pushed forward and Marco Reus went down rather easily whilst being shepherded by William Kvist in the VfB box. Much to the frustration of the Stuttgart players, the referee considered the challenge an infringement and awarded a penalty, which Filip Daems converted to give the home side the lead (67’). Almost directly from the re-start, VfB found the perfect answer. Kvist won the ball and crossed to the back post, where Gentner rose highest to head square to Cacau, who marked his anniversary game with the equliser (71’).