Controversial penalty
Mönchengladbach – Leverkusen from 20:30 LIVE
Double winners Bayer Leverkusen squandered a two-goal lead to open the new Bundesliga season at Borussia-Park in Mönchengladbach on Friday and still won. In the end, coach Xabi Alonso's team won 3:2 thanks to a controversial penalty in the 11th minute of stoppage time.
New Gladbach player Kevin Stöger played a strong game, but was unable to reward his team-mates for a spirited performance.
Champions Bayer Leverkusen opened the German Bundesliga soccer season with a nail-biting victory. The double winners prevailed 3:2 (2:0) in a thrilling opening match at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday evening. The decision was clinched by a penalty from young star Florian Wirtz in the 101st minute.
Leverkusen had squandered a two-goal lead with goals from Granit Xhaka (12) and Wirtz (38). Nico Elvedi (59) and Tim Kleindienst (85) scored for Gladbach, for whom Stöger played in attacking midfield. The Upper Austrian, who was not selected by ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick for the European Championship in Germany, played in set-pieces and repeatedly made his mark. Compatriot Stefan Lainer, who also narrowly missed out on the European Championship squad, made a brief appearance in the 13-minute injury time.
Xhaka scored the first goal of the new league season - in classic style for him with a well-placed shot from distance. Leverkusen hit the crossbar twice more through Victor Boniface (18th) and Edmond Tapsoba (22nd) before Wirtz made it 2-0 with a follow-up shot after Alejandro Grimaldo's attempt was blocked (38th). Kleindienst's supposed follow-up goal, which was headed over the line from a few centimetres out, was disallowed after a video review due to a previous foul (42').
After the break, the VAR decision went in Gladbach's favor. Ko Itakura was judged to be just offside from a Stöger free-kick. Elvedi converted the Japanese player's header at the second attempt. Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky had saved the first. In the 85th minute, Stöger found Kleindienst in the penalty area with an ideal pass and the striker, who had been brought in from league rivals Heidenheim, finished with a drop goal.
Hot finish
Gladbach were already dreaming of winning a point, but a penalty was awarded after Itakura fouled Amine Adli and a video review. Wirtz first failed to beat Jonas Omlin, but then dispatched the ball at the second attempt.
Leverkusen are now unbeaten in 35 league games this season. Last season, the Werkself did not lose a single game in domestic competition. The last league defeat for Xabi Alonso's team to date was a 3-0 loss to VfL Bochum on May 27, 2023. Stöger scored a goal for Bochum, who he left for Mönchengladbach in the summer after the team had once again managed to avoid relegation.
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