Gladbach beat Leverkusen to go second

Champions Bayern defeated by Augsburg ahead of return match against Barcelona

Borussia Moenchengladbach defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to go provisionally second in the Bundesliga while Bayern Munich lost 1-0 to Augsburg yesterday for the champion's fourth straight loss across all competitions.

Bayern reserve goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off for a body-check on Raul Bobadilla in the 13th minute, and the Augsburg forward's 71stminute back-heel secured the visitors' win.

"It's a dream to win in Munich today," Bobadilla said.

Augsburg captain Paul Verhaegh struck the post with the penalty after Reina's sending off, but on-loan Bayern midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg crossed for Bobadilla's winner to move Augsburg provisionally fifth ahead of Schalke.

"It wasn't easy to play 80 minutes with a player less after our game in Barcelona," said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, referring to Wednesday's Champions League semifinal loss against his former side.

Bayern hosts Barcelona for the second leg on Tuesday, hoping to turn around the 3-0 deficit.

"The league doesn't play a big role for us anymore. On Tuesday, we'll see if we can make it to (the Champions League final in) Berlin. If not, we'll celebrate the title," Guardiola said.

Moenchengladbach ended fourth-place Leverkusen's 10game unbeaten run, and moved one point above Wolfsburg, which visits relegationthreatened Paderborn today.

Patrick Herrmann set up Max Kruse in the 50th, and scored the clincher in the 81st. Ibrahima Traore added No. 3 late for ' Gladbach's ninth successive home win to all but secure direct qualification for the Champions League.

'Gladbach was five points ahead of fourth-place Leverkusen with two games remaining.

"I'm already looking forward to the last two games. The Champions League dream is within touching distance," midfielder Granit Xhaka said.

Borussia Dortmund defeated Hertha Berlin 2-0 at home to close within two points of Schalke for Europa League qualification.

"We're on the right course and we want to stay on it," Dortmund defender Mats Hummels said.

Neven Subotic headed in Henrikh Mkhitaryan's corner in the ninth minute and Eric Durm, another defender, made it 2-0 just after the break by cutting in from the right and unleashing a curling shot past Hertha goalkeeper Thomas Kraft for his first Bundesliga goal.

Dortmund, which was bottom in February, has won all but one of its five games since coach Juergen Klopp announced his end-of-season departure.

"If I'd known, I would have announced my resignation at the beginning of the season," Klopp joked.

Schalke was to play at Cologne today.

Also, Hannover drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen, and Hoffenheim lost 3-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bremen stayed level on points with Dortmund, and left Hannover in the relegation playoff place.

Frankfurt scored its first goals in four games, while Hoffenheim was unable to avoid slipping two points behind Bremen and Dortmund in the race for Europa League places.

Bottom side Stuttgart secured an important 2-0 win over visiting Mainz in the late game to boost its hopes of avoiding relegation. Stuttgart moved to one point behind nearest rivals Hannover, Freiburg and Paderborn, which has a game in hand.