Stuttgart netted two first-half goals before Langerak was beaten by Sebastian Polter's header from a diagonal cross. Daniel Ginczek rounded out the win for Stuttgart.

The result moves Stuttgart three points clear on top of the 2.Bundesliga table with four games to play.

Stuttgart (60 points) are ahead of Eintracht Braunschweig and Hannover 96 (both 57 points), with Union (54 points) further back in fourth.

The top two are automatically promoted in Germany, while third plays the 16th ranked Bundesliga side in a two-legged play-off.

Stuttgart have a relatively simple run of fixtures to come, although they play Hannover in the penultimate round in what looms as a crucial match.

Langerak has been integral to Stuttgart's success, playing all 30 2.Bundesliga games this campaign.

Elsewhere overnight, Mustafa Amini put in a full shift as AGF boosted their Danish Superliga survival hopes with a 4-0 home win over AaB. 

Chris Ikonomidis was an unused substitute as AGF remain bottom of Group 2 in the Relegation Round where the bottom two sides from both groups will be condemned to relegation play-offs.