Five-star for Monchengladbach

Borussia Monchengladbach collected their fifth straight Bundesliga victory with a 1-0 win at home to Freiburg.

In-form Borussia Monchengladbach collected their fifth straight Bundesliga victory thanks to a workmanlike performance at home to Freiburg. Raffael scored the only goal of the match in the 63rd minute as fourth-placed Gladbach continued their fine form with a narrow 1-0 win. Gladbach had the first chance after quarter of an hour as Juan Arango crossed into the middle where Patrick Herrmann lofted his attempt just over the bar. The visitors went close two minutes later but Gladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a good save from Admir Mehmedi's 20-yarder. Herrmann had another opportunity after 27 minutes with a volley that Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann tipped onto the crossbar and out of play. Freiburg nearly hit the front in the 58th minute as Francis Coquelin played a through ball to Sebastian Freis, who had a one-on-one against Ter Stegen but did not hit his effort cleanly enough. Gladbach went ahead in the 63rd minute with Herrmann slotting a through ball to Oscar Wendt, who crossed into the centre for Raffael whoto convert his seventh goal of the season. Arango had a free-kick from a decent position four minutes later but his attempt was collected by Baumann. Freiburg appealed for a penalty with 19 minutes remaining as Martin Stranzl went in hard on Sebastian Kerk in the box but the Gladbach defender also took plenty of the ball and the referee waved play on. That was the final scare for the Gladbach defence, which held up for the rest of the match against a Freiburg attack which appeared bereft of ideas.