VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach boosted their hopes of a place in next season's UEFA Champions League with a 3-0 win against 1. FC Köln, on a day when SC Freiburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim played out a goalless stalemate.

Lucien Favre's side were eager to arrest a four-game winless streak and stamped their authority on proceedings when Venezuelan international Juan Arango found the net with a sumptuous free-kick after 19 minutes. Tony Jantschke made it two shortly after the restart, before Marco Reus consigned rivals Köln to their fifth reverse in six Bundesliga games.

As a result, Mönchengladbach moved seven points clear of fifth-placed VfB Stuttgart and a point behind FC Schalke 04 in third. Defeat for Köln leaves them firmly in the relegation mire and four points adrift of safety.

In the other day's game, Freiburg made it eight matches without defeat thanks to a goalless draw with Hoffenheim.