D. Siebert
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Full-time
90'
+ 3
A LATE WINNER?
The home side have dominated this second half, but time is quickly running out for them to get an equaliser with just one minute of injury time remaining.
89'
Substitution
81'
FIRST CHANCE OF THE HALF FOR THE FOALS!
A rapid counter-attack has Hazard on the ball in the Leverkusen half and he finds Hofmann running in behind the home side's defence. The German attempts a shot at goal on his left, and drags it inches wide.
81'
Substitution
76'
SOMMER BEATS HAVERTZ AGAIN!
The battle between Yann Sommer and the entire Leverkusen team continues. Bellarabi with a perfect cross onto the head of Havertz, but once again Sommer is positioned superbly to save before the ball is cleared by Elvedi. Will Leverkusen get a goal today?
72'
ANOTHER CHANCE GOES BEGGING!
It's Bellarabi with the cross this time and Volland with the shot once again, as the forward slides forward to reach the ball in the middle of the six-yard box, but can only find the safe hands of Sommer with his touch towards goal. It's been an outstanding day for the Swiss shot-stopper.
71'
Substitution
70'
NOW VOLLAND FORCES A SAVE!
An amazing pass from Havertz finds Volland in the box, and the German forward is able to open his body to shoot at goal, but it's Sommer who wins the battle again. Incredible vision from the teenager to even see that the pass could be made.
69'
OFF THE POST!
Karim Bellarabi comes closest to bringing Leverkusen level as he collects the ball from Havertz's pass on the right wing and shoot across goal. But his effort bounces back out off the post!
69'
Substitution
66'
PENALTY APPEAL...
Leon Bailey goes down in the box after just reaching the ball ahead of Sommer in the box, but it looks like he went down too easily for the referee's liking.
62'
HAVERTZ GOES WITHIN INCHES!
A corner into the box sees the ball drops loose in the middle of the Gladbach six-yard box and Havertz is the nearest to it. The midfielder volleys the ball at goal but can only hit it straight at Sommer once again. A big chance that may come to haunt the home side...
57'
LEVERKUSEN GETTING AGGRESSIVE!
The home side are pressing high up the pitch and forcing mistakes from their opponents, while also keeping possession from themselves in good positions. They haven't been able to find the key to unlock Gladbach so far, with changes possibly coming soon.
48'
LIGHTNING START FROM BOTH SIDES
A goal-mouth scramble in the Gladbach box almost had Leverkusen level, and moments later the away side were racing forward on a counter started by Sommer. An end-to-end start with both sides gunning for the game's next goal, which will be a crucial one.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 2
HAZARD DOWN...
The Belgian star is hurt after taking a bit kick in the back of his right leg from Kai Havertz, who was attempting a shot on goal. He looks like he'll be able to carry on, though.
45'
PLEA LOVES AN AWAY DAY!
The Frenchman's 10 Bundesliga goals so far this season have come more often than not on the road, and when his team needs them most. Eight of his goals have come away from home, with just two so far being scored at Borussia-Park.
45'
A HALF OF CHANCES TAKEN
Depsite a dominant beginning it's Leverkusen who trail at the break. No clear-cut chances came for Peter Bosz's side, but enough half chances to have caused more problems to the Gladbach goal. However, at the break, it's the away side who lead through Alassane Plea's beautifully taken goal.
44'
ELVEDI DENIED BY HRADECKY!
The Swiss defender is all alone in the box as a set-piece is swung into the box, and he heads down towards goal. However, Hradecky produces a superb save low to his left to turn the ball around the post.
42'
BAILEY HEADER...
The Jamaican is showing off his new, classic hairstyle and it almost produced a goal as his clean head of hair got to a cross into the box, but Sommer was equal to his effort.
37'
NUMBER 10 FOR PLEA!
Superb finish from the Frenchman to give the away side the lead. Jonas Hofmann's pass beyond Wendell played him in on goal and from a very difficult angle, Plea hits the ball across Hradecky, across the goal and in off the far post.
28'
HAVERTZ FORCES A SAVE!
Lovely set-up from Brandt with a flick through his legs to Havertz. The teenager turns onto his favoured left foot and curls an effort towards the far post, but Sommer gets down well to turn it around his post.
24'
BOTH DEFENCES DOING THEIR JOBS
While both teams are showing confidence and flair in their build-up play, neither has been able to breach the other's penalty area with the ball so far. As soon as one team brings the ball into the other's half, the attack has, so far, been quickly snuffed out.
18'
HAVERTZ HAS A GO
A corner is cleared and then put back into the box by Leverkusen only for it be cleared again, this time only as far as Kai Havertz who takes aim with a volley. But his effort goes straight at Sommer, who handles with ease. Leverkusen's good start continuing despite Gladbach now getting more of the ball for themselves after a slow start.
11'
LARS BENDER TAKES A KNOCK...
Big collision with Hazard has forced Lars Bender off the pitch for the time being. He has been taking treatment on the pitch for what looks like a stomach injury. Surely winded after a big hit from the Belgian forward.
10'
THE STORY SO FAR...
Leverkusen have been in total control so far, dictating the play and enjoying some good possession in the Gladbach half. The away side are just now starting to show some more confidence with Hazard being able to get on the ball, but until now, it's been Bosz and his men strutting their stuff.
3'
POSITIVE START FOR BAYER
The home side have started with pace and power going forward. Neat interplay outside the box sees the ball played into space for Aranguiz to strike at goal, testing the hands of Yann Sommer for the first time in the game. It's been a fluid start for Leverkusen.
1'
KICK-OFF!
We're underway with Peter Bosz's first Bundesliga game in 406 days.
Kick-off!
KICK-OFF MOMENTS AWAY
It's a packed crowd in the BayArena ready and waiting for their first sight of a Peter Bosz Leverkusen team, and the chance to show the league what they're made of against the quality of Borussia Mönchengladbach.
THE RETURN OF PETER BOSZ!
Former Borussia Dortmund coach Peter Bosz has made his return to the Bundesliga, taking over from Heiko Herrlich at Bayer Leverkusen over the winter break. "I desperately wanted to come back to the Bundesliga. The people in Germany haven't seen the real Peter Bosz yet. Now they'll get to know him at Bayer Leverkusen, but I can't repeat the mistakes that I made at Dortmund. I have to learn from that experience."
HAVERTZ VS. HAZARD!
Two special talents headline a mouth-watering fixture which is actually filled with talent across the pitch. However, this season, Kai Havertz and Thorgan Hazard are certainly the standouts for Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach respectively. Havertz has six goals and two assists from his 17 matches so far this season, while Hazard has produced nine goals and six assists from the same number of games.
GLADBACH:
Sommer – Lang, Elvedi, Ginter, Wendt – Zakaria, Strobl, Hofmann – Hazard, Stindl (c), Plea
LEVERKUSEN:
Hradecky – L. Bender (c), Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Havertz, Aranguiz, Brandt – Bellarabi, Volland, Bailey
TEAM NEWS IS IN!
Official team news is in from the BayArena and it is as follows...
Welcome along to the match centre for the game Leverkusen vs. M'gladbach from matchday 18 of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season at the BayArena. Check back here for full information on the match.