Leipzig's win keeps Bundesliga title race alive

BERLIN - Runners-up Leipzig returned to winning ways and narrowed the gap to leaders Bayern Munich after beating 10-man Stuttgart 2-0 in the 31st round of Bundesliga on Sunday.

After a balanced opening period, Stuttgart's Naouriou Ahamada got a yellow card on 14 minutes, which was upgraded to a straight red card by the video assistant referee.

Fortunately, Stuttgart goalkeeper Gregor Kobel defused Christopher Nkunku's dangerous attempt moments later.

Outnumbered Stuttgart had to change its strategy and kept all its men behind the ball to make Leipzig's life difficult for the remainder of the first half.

Leipzig dominated possession and pressed for the opener but Ibrahima Konat and Nkunku were not able to break the deadlock on promising chances in the closing stages of the first half.

After the restart, the "Red Bulls" picked up where they left off after Dani Olmo's pinpoint cross into the area allowed Amadou Haidara to head past Kobel in the 46th minute.

Leipzig increased the pressure, but Kobel drove the hosts to despair after denying the shots on target from Alexander Sorloth's and Dani Olmo's at the hour mark.

However, seven minutes later, Emil Forsberg converted a penalty into the bottom right corner to seal the 2-0 deal.

The hosts continued on the front foot, but Stuttgart's defense stood firm and prevented Julian Nagelsmann's men from adding another goal to their lead.

With the result, Leipzig cement its second place and reduce the arrears to front runners Bayern Munich to seven points with three rounds to spare. Meanwhile, Stuttgart stay on the 10th spot despite suffering its fourth consecutive defeat.

"It was an important win for us. With a defeat today there would have been too much pressure in the battle for the Champions League and the second spot," said Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann.

"After the sent off it was a different game. We defended well for a long time. The goal after the break was bitter. I like the fact that we continued to work consistently despite two goals against us," said Stuttgart head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.

Elsewhere, seventh-placed Borussia Monchengladbach increased its chances of a top-six finish after crushing relegation-threatened Arminia Bielefeld 5-0 by courtesy on Breel Embolo's brace.