Bayer 04 Leverkusen kicked off their Bundesliga title defense with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach in the opening match of the 2024-25 season. The match at Borussia-Park was a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in an 11th-minute injury-time winner by Florian Wirtz.
The defending champions started strongly, with Granit Xhaka unleashing a thunderous strike in the 12th minute to give Leverkusen the early lead. Wirtz doubled the advantage in the 38th minute after Monchengladbach failed to clear their lines.
Leverkusen dominated the first half, hitting the woodwork twice and seeing a Monchengladbach goal disallowed after a video assistant referee (VAR) review just before halftime. However, the hosts were far from defeated.
Nico Elvedi ignited Monchengladbach’s comeback in the 59th minute, and new signing Tim Kleindienst leveled the score in the 85th minute, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
As the match edged towards a draw, late drama unfolded. Deep into stoppage time, Leverkusen were awarded a penalty for a foul in the area. Although goalkeeper Jonas Omlin saved Wirtz’s initial spot kick, the midfielder reacted swiftly to slot in the rebound, securing the victory for his team.
This win extends Leverkusen’s unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to 35 games, showcasing their resilience under manager Xabi Alonso. Their penchant for late goals and comebacks, evident in last season’s undefeated league and DFB-Pokal campaigns, seems set to continue.
The match was briefly halted at the start of the second half when fans lit multiple flares in the stands, blanketing part of the field in smoke. Despite the interruption, both teams maintained high energy levels throughout the intense encounter.
Leverkusen’s victory sets a positive tone for their season ahead, demonstrating their determination to retain the Bundesliga title. Fans around the world will be watching keenly as they continue their quest for glory.
Reference(s):
Leverkusen begin Bundesliga title defense by defeating Monchengladbach
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