Tabakovic's late strike secures Gladbach's Bundesliga safety, stuns Dortmund
Synopsis
In a stunning late twist, Haris Tabakovic's 88th-minute finish handed Borussia Mönchengladbach their Bundesliga lifeline, eliminating Dortmund's chance to seal second place. The dramatic VAR-overturned offside call left Gladbach safe with two games to spare, while Dortmund's missed opportunity keeps the title race taut.
Key Takeaways
Haris Tabakovic scored in the 88th minute to secure Gladbach's 1-0 victory over Dortmund on 4 May .
The goal was initially flagged offside but VAR overturned the decision.
Gladbach mathematically secured Bundesliga survival with two matches remaining, ending a five-game winless run.
Dortmund remain five points clear of RB Leipzig with a superior goal difference but missed the chance to seal second place.
Elsewhere, Mainz beat St.
Pauli 2-1 and Freiburg drew 1-1 with Wolfsburg .
Borussia Mönchengladbach secured their Bundesliga survival for another season on 4 May after striker Haris Tabakovic struck in the 88th minute to deliver a 1-0 home victory over Borussia Dortmund. The dramatic late winner left 11th-placed Gladbach mathematically beyond the reach of the bottom three with two matches remaining, ending a five-game winless run.
How the match unfolded
Gladbach dominated possession and territory in the opening stages, with Joe Scally testing Dortmund early before Nico Elvedi had a goal correctly ruled out for offside in the first half. Tabakovic came close on multiple occasions, forcing saves from Gregor Kobel, while Dortmund offered little attacking threat before the interval, with Samuele Inacio forcing only a routine save from Moritz Nicolas in stoppage time.
The decisive moment
After the restart, Gladbach continued to press. Tabakovic prodded just wide in the 48th minute, but Dortmund gradually improved without seizing control. Julian Brandt, Ryerson, Inacio, Sabitzer, and Fabio Silva all spurned chances to break the deadlock. The breakthrough came in the 88th minute when Rocco Reitz released Tabakovic with a through ball. The striker composed himself in front of Kobel and slotted into the bottom right corner. Though initially flagged offside, VAR overturned the decision, handing Gladbach a precious three points.
What it means for the title race
Dortmund, who could have sealed second place with victory, remain five points clear of third-placed RB Leipzig with a far superior goal difference. The loss marks a missed opportunity to confirm their runners-up finish, though their cushion remains substantial with five rounds of fixtures remaining.
Tactical adjustments and performances
Gladbach coach Eugen Polanski made one change from the 0-0 draw at VfL Wolfsburg, introducing 17-year-old Wael Mohya for the suspended Jens Castrop. Dortmund manager Niko Kovac started 18-year-old Luca Reggiani in place of the foot-injured Ramy Bensebaini following a 4-0 rout of SC Freiburg. Post-match, Kovac expressed frustration: "The defeat really annoys me because we did not show what you have to show in a Bundesliga match. Gladbach showed us today the intensity you need to play with if you want to take points in the Bundesliga."
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga
Mainz bolstered their survival hopes with a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened St. Pauli, goals from Philip Tietz and Philipp Mwene securing three crucial points. In parallel, Freiburg snatched a late 1-1 draw to deepen Wolfsburg's relegation worries, leaving the bottom half of the table in flux with several matches still to play.
Point of View
But the narrative belongs to Dortmund's profligacy. Four clear-cut chances spurned—Brandt, Ryerson, Sabitzer, Silva—against a Gladbach side that made their limited opportunities count. For Kovac, it was a reminder that intensity in the Bundesliga is not optional; it is the baseline. With five points still separating second from third, Dortmund's buffer is cushioned, but performances like this invite closer challengers to smell weakness.
NationPress
4 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Haris Tabakovic's winning goal come about?
In the 88th minute, Rocco Reitz released Tabakovic with a through ball. The striker composed himself in front of Gregor Kobel and rolled the ball into the bottom right corner. The goal was initially flagged offside but VAR overturned the decision.
What does this result mean for Gladbach's Bundesliga future?
The victory secured Borussia Mönchengladbach's Bundesliga survival mathematically with two matches remaining. They are now beyond the reach of the bottom three and ended a five-game winless run.
How did Dortmund react to the defeat?
Manager Niko Kovac expressed frustration, saying the team did not display the intensity required to earn points in the Bundesliga. Dortmund missed the opportunity to seal second place but remain five points clear of RB Leipzig with a superior goal difference.
Which other teams secured important results on the day?
Mainz defeated relegation-threatened St. Pauli 2-1 with goals from Philip Tietz and Philipp Mwene, while Freiburg snatched a late 1-1 draw against Wolfsburg to deepen their relegation worries.
