Leverkusen Secures Dramatic Win Over Gladbach in Season Opener

Bayer Leverkusen kicked off the new Bundesliga season with a thrilling 3-2 victory against Borussia Monchengladbach, showcasing their penchant for late drama. The defending champions, who remained unbeaten throughout last season, needed a goal in the 11th minute of injury time to clinch the win after squandering a two-goal lead at Borussia-Park. The match highlighted Leverkusen's resilience, a hallmark of their previous campaign under coach Xabi Alonso. Granit Xhaka opened the scoring for Leverkusen with a stunning 25-yard strike in the 12th minute, followed by Florian Wirtz doubling the lead in the 38th minute after a defensive lapse from Gladbach. Despite Leverkusen's dominance, including two shots hitting the woodwork, the hosts began their comeback in the second half. Nico Elvedi scored in the 59th minute, and new signing Tim Kleindienst equalized in the 85th, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. As the match approached its conclusion, Leverkusen was awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time. Wirtz's initial attempt was saved by Gladbach's goalkeeper Jonas Omlin, but he quickly reacted to convert the rebound, sealing the victory for his team. This win extends Leverkusen's unbeaten streak in the league to 35 games, further solidifying their status as a formidable force in German football. The match was briefly interrupted in the second half due to fans igniting flares, which created a smoky atmosphere in the stadium, adding to the intensity of the encounter.