Highlights
D. Aytekin
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0:22
Watch: Alonso: "There are still many games to play"
Full-time
90'
+ 4
Full-time: Bayer 0-0 Gladbach
Leverkusen have to settle for a point after failing to score in a game they largely dominated. Xabi Alonso's men will be disappointed they couldn't turn territorial advantage into goals but credit should be given to a Gladbach side who were resolute in their defending against the Bundesliga leaders. As it stands, B04 have a two-point advantage at the top of the Bundesliga table over Bayern Munich, with the top two set to do battle in a couple of weeks.
90'
+ 3
Nicolas on the spot
Schick lifts the ball in for Hložek, who hooks it for Tella. The 24-year-old can only divert the ball into the arms of Nicolas from close range.
90'
Time added on
There will be four minutes tacked onto the end of this one.
87'
Schick and wide
Wirtz's corner is just a touch too high for Schick, who can only glance an angled header off target.
84'
Here comes Hložek
Bayer bring Hložek on for Hofmann. The Leverkusen fans are giving their all to push the hosts on towards a winner.
84'
Substitution
81'
Weigl yellow
Gladbach's captain is warned for time wasting.
79'
Fukuda debut
Young Japanese striker Shio Fukuda makes his senior bow for Gladbach as part of a three-man change for the visitors. Nathan Ngoumou and Christopher Kramer are also on for the Foals.
79'
Substitution
79'
Substitution
79'
Substitution
77'
Stanišić off target
Leverkusen's frustration continues as Stanišić drills harmlessly wide following plenty of passing in the final third. Gladbach continue to hold firm.
74'
Stanišić sees yellow
Schick makes contact with Nicolas following a Leverkusen in-swinger. Nicolas goes down and Stanišić complains to the ref, who books the B04 player.
© IMAGO/Revierfoto
70'
Lainer comes on
Applause from Stefan Lainer, who comes on for the second successive week for Gladbach. The Austrian recently recovered from cancer to return to the Gladbach fold.
70'
Substitution
68'
Bayer change
Xabi Alonso mixes things up with the introduction of Nathan Tella. Nadiem Amiri - who was making his first Bundesliga start this season today - comes off.
68'
Substitution
66'
Schick sees yellow
Schick goes in studs up on Scally and that's a booking for the Bayer forward.
Time ticking on
© IMAGO/Norbert Jansen / fohlenfoto
62'
Neuhaus challenge
Frimpong races through on goal and just when the defender is about to pull the trigger, Neuhaus slides in and hooks the ball away. A goal-saving challenge.
62'
Substitution
60'
Double chance
Grimaldo squares for Frimpong, who somehow manages to clear instead of firing at the target. Miments later, the Dutchman squares for Grimaldo, who blasts over.
56'
Big moment
A super Schick header releases Wirtz and suddenly Leverkusen are sprinting forward into space. Wirtz plays Frimpong into the area but the Dutch full-back can only swipe at the ball with his left foot and his effort bobbles wide.
54'
No way through
Frimpong sprints into the area but his pass to Hofmann just has too much pace on it and Leverkusen's midfielder can't work the ball towards goal. Nicolas subsequently saves a tame shot from Amiri.
52'
Kovář relief
Hack runs free towards the Leverkusen box. Kovář races to the edge of his box but isn't getting there, so it's just as well for the the home keeper that the assistant's flag rises.
49'
B04 building
xGoals
0
1.09
0.21
0
Goals
47'
Xhaka booking
Xhaka lands studs first on Neuheus, who goes down in a heap. That's a yellow card for the Leverkusen midfielder.
46'
Back underway
Gladbach get the second half going at the BayArena ....
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Half-time: Bayer 0-0 Gladbach
Hofmann sees his shot saved by Nicolas and that brings an end to an entertaining 45 minutes which Leverkusen edged, if only in terms of possession and chances created.
Half-time
45'
+ 1
Wishful thinking
Amiri lifts the ball against Elevedi, who throws his arms behind his back and the ball comes off the defender's stomach. The home fans shout out in hope but that's not going to be the penalty they want.
No way through
© IMAGO/Harald Bremes
40'
Grimaldo off target
Grimaldo, from a central position, whips a shot wide of the upright from a good distance out. Nicolas had that covered all the way.
38'
The running men
Distance run (km)
5.4
5.3
Florian Wirtz Robin Hack
36'
Wirtz eyes goal
Florian Wirtz twists and turns inside the area before poking a shot straight into the arms of Nicolas.
33'
Opportunities
Goal attempts
5off target
4on target
1off target
3on target
32'
Gladbach improving
A decent spell from the Foals here. Hack and Honorat are creating while Honorat applies a shot that causes Kovář a headache, the goalkeeper spilling and then relieved to see teammate Andrich tidy up.
27'
Neuhaus glimpse
Neuhaus relieves the pressure on the visitors by rounding off a counter attack with a strike that Kovář easily deals with.
25'
Chances flowing
Again Bayer come, this time working a corner to Wirtz, who cross for Stanišić. The Croatian's header is straight at Nicolas. Soon afterwards, Patrik Schick sends an effort wide of the target.
24'
Almost Bayer
Xhaka nicks possession inside the Gladbach box and tees up Hofmann, who backheels to Wirtz. Leverkusen's No.10, with the goal at his mercy, drags a weak shot wide of the post. Wirtz has to score there.
22'
Gladbach alive
Hack and Koné help to set up a chance for Netz, who angles an effort at the far post. Kovář gets a strong hand to the ball.
20'
Battle-hardened
Duels won
6
6
Patrik Schick Nico Elvedi
18'
Wirtz tries one
Bayer fans let out a collective roar after Weigl's hand connects with the ball inside the Leverkusen box. Unintentional, says the ref. B04 stay focused and Wirtz comes away with the ball before prodding a floating shot just past the post.
17'
Grimaldo menacing
Xhaka lifts a lovely ball towards the back stick, where Grimaldo is waiting. The Spain international connects to send a first-time pass into the centre. Scally slides in to clear.
15'
Pass masters
12'
Stanišić effort
Wirtz snaffles possession and quickly feeds Xhaka, who in turn finds Josip Stanišić. The Bayern Munich loanee sees his shot on the run blocked.
10'
One-way traffic
Possession (%)
8020
8'
Tidy hosts
It's impressive to watch Leverkusen confidently knock quick-fire, one-touch passes in tight spaces and almost always find their man. An opener for the league leaders looks inevitable right now.
6'
Pattern set?
The visitors, in their all white kits, are sitting deep, allowing the Werkself time and space on the ball.
3'
Bayer on fire
Leverkusen are pinging it about early doors and Amiri emerges with the game's first shot, a rasping drive from the right that Nicolas tips over following an acrobatic drive.
1'
Away we go
Xhaka tips the ball to Hofmann and we're underway in this evening's Topspiel!
Kick-off!
"Never again is now!"
© Imago
Gladbach's back three
The visitors are lining up with Friedrich, Elvedi and USMNT international Joe Scally in a three-man defence as they look to stem Bayer's flow today. There's no Pléa, who is injured while Reitz is only on the bench as he inches back to 100 per cent full fitness.
Kovář in the spotlight
So, what a big evening this could be for goalkeeper Matěj Kovář, making his first Bundesliga start with Lukáš Hrádecký dropping to the bench. "It's just a decision for today that we'll help [Matěj] for the next games in the cup. Both are strong goalkeepers. And Lukáš will be in goal again next week in Darmstadt," Xabi Alonso explained of his decision.
Tick tock
© IMAGO/Christopher Neundorf/IMAGO/Kirchner-Media
Bayer absentees
The absentee list remains a lengthy one for Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. Those on international duty include Amine Adli, Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou while along with the aforementioned Boniface, Arthur and Exequiel Palacios are injured. Jonathan Tah, meanwhile, is suspended.
Neuhaus at the ready
Florian Neuhaus makes his first start in almost two months for Gladbach, who also have 19-year-old Japanese striker Shio Fukuda in their match squad for the first time.
Kovář in, Schick milestone
© IMAGO/Moritz Mueller
Leverkusen starting XI
Kovář - Stanišić, Andrich (c), Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Amiri, Grimaldo - Hofmann, Wirtz - Schick
Leverkusen subs
Hrádecký, Fosu-Mensah, Münz, Mbamba, Puerta, Tella, Hložek, Izekor, Onyeka
Gladbach starting XI
Nicolas - Scally, Friedrich, Elvedi, Netz - Neuhaus, Weigl (c), Koné - Honorat Jordan, Hack
Gladbach subs
Olschowsky, Chiarodia, Lainer, Jantschke, Ngoumou, Kramer, Reitz, Ranos, Fukuda
“Never again is now!”
© IMAGO/Tim Rehbein/RHR-FOTO
4:01
Watch: Why Bayer Leverkusen can win the title - analysis
Tah and Palacios out
Exequiel Palacios suffered injury against Leipzig last weekend and missed out, so too does the suspended Jonathan Tah. Gustavo Puerta is tipped to replace the former in midfield, with Robert Andrich most likely to drop into defence.
Weigl back for the Foals
Gladbach will be glad to have Julian Weigl back from suspension, especially with Rocco Reitz withdrawn through injury against Augsburg. In the centre of defence, Maximilian Wöber is hoping to return from illness in time to feature and he could put pressure on Marvin Friedrich.
1:02
Watch: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 Mainz - highlights
Alonso's view on Gladbach
© Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga
Seoane's view on Leverkusen
© IMAGO/Darius Simka
In Pep's footsteps
Only Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola have ever accumulated more points after 18 games than Leverkusen’s league-leading tally of 48. In 2013/14, Bayern had 50 points at this stage, and 49 in 2015/16.
Probable line-ups
© IMAGO/imageBROKER/Michael Weber
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2:03
Watch: Gladbach 0-3 Leverkusen - previous meeting
2:03
Watch: Leipzig 2-3 Leverkusen - highlights
2:03
Watch: Gladbach 1-2 Augsburg - highlights
0:30