Former Germany international Mike Hanke’s glancing header in the 31st minute put them on track for their seventh win in the last nine league games with Marco Reus and Igor de Camargo on target as well late in the game.      

Gladbach, who came through a relegation playoff last season to stay in the top flight, remain fourth and have 39 points from 19 games after their first win at Stuttgart since 1994.     

“The result is a bit deceptive,” Hanke told reporters. “We were not as dominant as in our home games. But we are satisfied and proud with this win.     

“The title is absolutely no issue for us at the moment. We know where we come from, we are far from a top team. We have a stable team and we won 3-0 away today.”     

The hosts were toothless in attack despite the presence of Bosnian international Vedad Ibisevic, who joined earlier this week from Hoffenheim.     

Gladbach made sure of the points in the last 10 minutes, top scorer Reus breaking free to fire in his 12th league goal of the campaign before De Camargo added another in the 84th minute.     

In Sunday’s other game, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting scored twice in Mainz 05’s 3-1 win over bottom-placed Freiburg that lifted them to 12th, three points above the drop zone.