Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 Moenchengladbach's Ramy Bensebaini celebrates scoring their third goal from the penalty spot, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERS
Borussia Moenchengladbach boosted their hopes of winning a first Bundesliga title since 1977 after early goals from Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram helped them secure a 3-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Gladbach, who went 2-0 up in seven minutes before adding another through Ramy Bensebaini's penalty in the second half, moved up one place to third on 52 points from 26 games, three behind champions and leaders Bayern Munich who visit Union Berlin on Sunday.
Frankfurt, who have now lost four league games in a row, slipped one place to 13th on 28 points after getting a rude awakening as the league returned after a two-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 Moenchengladbach's Ramy Bensebaini scores their third goal from the penalty spot, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERS
Plea fired the visitors ahead after 40 seconds when he slid in to steer the ball past goalkeeper Kevin Trapp into the far corner after exchanging a one-two with Jonas Hofmann.
Thuram added the second with a simple tap-in from two metres into an empty net after a low cross from the left by Bensebaini.
Plea then missed several chances as he was denied by Trapp three times and also hit the woodwork with a rasping shot before he won a penalty for the visitors when he was bundled over in the 73rd minute.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 Moenchengladbach's Ramy Bensebaini celebrates scoring their third goal from the penalty spot, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERS
Bensebaini converted the spot kick before halftime substitute Andre Silva netted a late consolation for the home side with a fine shot from inside the penalty area.
Hofmann was guilty of an astonishing miss in the dying minutes when he rounded Trapp and had the goal at his mercy but dwelled on the ball and allowed Martin Hinteregger to clear his shot off the line.
Like the day's early fixtures, the match was played with no spectators present as the Bundesliga sprung back into action.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 Moenchengladbach's Ramy Bensebaini scores their third goal from the penalty spot, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERS
Gladbach are at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the next round of matches while Frankfurt visit Bayern.
(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 A member of Frankfurt's coaching staff wears a face mask, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 General view of the action and empty stands, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERSSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 Moenchengladbach's head coach Marco Rose talks to his players, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 Moenchengladbach's Breel Embolo in action with Frankfurt's Filip Kostic, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERSSoccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 Players in action, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 General view of the action and empty stands, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERS
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