Bayer Leverkusen secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday, thanks to a penalty awarded by VAR in the 11th minute of stoppage time, converted by Florian Wirtz. This match kicked off the Bundesliga season for both teams.
Last season’s champions, Leverkusen, initially took a commanding 2-0 lead with goals from Granit Xhaka and Wirtz. However, they surrendered this advantage as Gladbach staged a comeback, with Nico Elvedi scoring in the 59th minute and new signing Tim Kleindienst equalizing in the 85th.
Despite being under pressure, Leverkusen demonstrated their resilience once more. A late foul in the penalty area led to Wirtz’s first attempt being saved, but he quickly capitalized on the rebound to secure the win. This marks the 12th occasion since the start of the previous season where Leverkusen has scored a tying or go-ahead goal in stoppage time.
Midfielder Xhaka emphasized the team’s determination, stating that their belief in themselves remained strong throughout the match. Head coach Xabi Alonso attributed the propensity for late goals to the team’s mentality and noted that while it was hard to explain, it was a positive trait.
Despite the victory, Alonso acknowledged the areas needing improvement, particularly emphasizing the need for greater compactness and aggressiveness in their play. The match was also briefly interrupted in the second half when fans ignited flares, causing smoke to engulf part of the field. Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak now extends to 35 matches in the league.