Gladbach close in on Champions League

Borussia Monchengladbach strengthened their grip on a Champions League spot with a 3-0 victory at home to local rivals Cologne.

Gladbach are now just one win away from securing a place in Europe's premier competition following the comfortable win at the Borussia Park Stadion on Sunday. Juan Arango gave the hosts a first-half lead, before two goals in as many minutes from Tony Jantschke and Marco Reus secured the three points for Lucien Favre's side. The result took them seven points clear of fifth-placed Stuttgart and to within a point of Schalke in third. The defeat was damaging to relegation-threatened Cologne, who are now four points adrift of safety and just a point ahead of second-bottom Hertha Berlin. It is looking like a fight between those two sides to decide who goes down automatically and who gets a second chance in a play-off.