Reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen kicked off their title defense with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach in a dramatic season opener. The match was filled with twists and turns, with Leverkusen ultimately snatching the win in the 11th minute of stoppage time.
Leverkusen dominated the first half, with Granit Xhaka opening the scoring with a stunning long-range effort in the 13th minute. Florian Wirtz doubled their lead in the 38th minute, giving Xabi Alonso’s side a comfortable advantage at the break.
However, Gladbach fought back in the second half. Nico Elvedi pulled one back in the 59th minute, and newcomer Tim Kleindienst equalized with just five minutes remaining. The hosts looked set to secure a point, but a late penalty awarded to Leverkusen changed the course of the game.
Wirtz stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his initial effort was saved by Jonas Omlin. However, the Germany international was quick to react and hammered the rebound into the net, securing a dramatic victory for Leverkusen.
The win was a testament to Leverkusen’s resilience and determination. Despite conceding two goals in the second half, they refused to give up and ultimately found a way to win. Xhaka praised his team’s “pure mentality” after the match, highlighting their ability to bounce back from setbacks.
Leverkusen’s victory was also notable for being the latest goal in Bundesliga history. Wirtz’s strike came in the 10th minute of stoppage time, surpassing the previous record set by Bayern Munich in 2014.
The result leaves Leverkusen top of the Bundesliga standings after the first round of matches. Gladbach, meanwhile, will be disappointed to have lost after fighting back from two goals down, but they will take heart from their second-half performance.
