Highlights
C. Dingert
Watch: Xabi Alonso targets more of the same
Watch: Victor Boniface "really happy" with first Bundesliga goals
90'
+ 4
Dominant win
A fully deserved win for Leverkusen, who built on an already impressive first game of the season with an even more impressive road victory. Gladbach did not muster a shot on target until deep into the second half, but it will be their defensive woes which will worry Seoane more – that is seven goals conceded in the first two games of the season.
Full-time
90'
+ 1
Three more minutes
There will be the bare minimum three minutes added on.
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
89'
No hat-trick
There's not going to be a hat-trick, but Boniface gets the standing ovation he deserves from the travelling fans, and that's enough to put a smile on his face, not to mention Alonso's.
88'
Substitution
88'
Substitution
85'
Wonderful Wirtz
Hlozek's first touch of the game is almost a goal, and he has Wirtz to thank. A wonderful pass through meant the substitute just had to focus on the finish, but Omlin denies his dink.
82'
Final ten
Can Gladbach at least salvage some pride here? It does not look like it at the moment, so the home fans direct their boos towards their former player Hofmann as he leaves the field.
81'
Substitution
81'
Substitution
79'
Substitution
79'
Substitution
77'
Honoraaaaah!
Honorat opts for precision over power, with Leverkusen's second attempt of the game on target, but it is easy for Hradecky to collect.
76'
Ton up
73'
Lull in the game
With Leverkusen sitting back, Gladbach are enjoying more of the ball, but getting it through the packed lines of Leverkusen shirts is proving challenging.
70'
Substitution
69'
Hradecky finally tested
The first attempt of the goal on target from Gladbach, and it is Weigl whose header is pushed away by Hradecky for a second straight corner.
69'
Substitution
68'
Ringing the changes
Seoane has decided to make his first two changes, with Hack and Reitz coming on - can they make a difference?
67'
Substitution
67'
Substitution
65'
Seeking the target
Friedrich heads Gladbach's eighth attempt of the game wide. Like the previous seven, it did not hit the target or give Hradecky any work to do.
63'
Dominant guests
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
0.34
2.76
0
Goals
Hungry Boniface
© IMAGO/Uwe Kraft
53'
Game, set and match?
That could well be three points in the bag for Leverkusen. Boniface provides the finish, but much of the credit must go to Wirtz for a perfectly weighted assist, begging Boniface just to tuck it past Omlin - and he does.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
51'
Friedrich effort
A sign of life from the Foals, with Friedrich firing into the side-netting. Hradecky let it go, but it was not too far away.
49'
Little let-up
Leverkusen have already pitched their tent in the Gladbach half, continuing from where they left off in the first half.
48'
Historic hope for Gladbach
Gladbach are the only team who did not lose to Alonso’s Leverkusen last season after trailing at the break, Back then, they were 2-0 down and drew 2-2. Omen?
47'
keeper Efficiency
keeper Efficiency
1.1
Saves3
xSaves1.9
46'
No changes
The teams emerge for the second half and there are no substitutions, Leverkusen coach Alonso sticking with his tried and trusted team, while Gladbach boss Seoane gives his team the chance to set the record straight.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 7
Thrill a minute
It's been a gripping game so far, with Leverkusen the better side. They’ve had 16 efforts on goal compared to Gladbach’s three, with the action ebbing and flowing from end to end, but the visitors are fully deserving of their lead.
Half-time
45'
+ 6
Leverkusen extend their lead!
Xhaka opens the door again, lofting a pass over the Gladbach defence for Hofmann to chase down the right. He volleys the ball back into the middle and Tah is on hand to guide a left-footed effort into the net!
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
45'
+ 5
45'
+ 4
44'
Trigger happy
Shots
1
6
Marvin Friedrich Victor Boniface
44'
Itakura clears!
Another chance for Leverkusen, again for Boniface, but this time Itakura is well placed to keep the ball out.
40'
Boniface again
Gladbach can't lay a glove on Wirtz in the middle of the park and he is wreaking havoc. He skips through a couple of challenges before laying the ball off to Boniface, whose left-footed shot from just inside the box rolls just wide.
36'
Ball Recovery Time
Ball Recovery Time
Ball Recovery Time gives the time in seconds in which it takes a team to win back the ball following a loss of possession. It also allows conclusions to be drawn about a team's style of play. Only time when the ball is in play is counted (i.e. no breaks in play such as for goal-kicks, throw-ins etc).
The difference
© Imago Images
33'
Delightful from Frimpong
Wide on the Leverkusen right, around the halfway line, Frimpong dummies the ball, bamboozling Scally behind him, before sprinting to collect it again. His pace takes him past another couple of defenders and he tries to find Wirtz on the edge of the box but a defender pokes it clear.
30'
Wide from Palacios
The Leverkusen midfielder arrows an effort at goal from outside the box but it whistles narrowly wide of the post.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
28'
Wirtz on the move
Distance run (km)
3.5
3.7
Julian Weigl Florian Wirtz
25'
Visitors probing
A quick counter-attack culminates with Wirtz receiving the ball on the left inside the penalty area. He crosses for Hofmann at the near post but he can't quite get there and Gladbach hoof clear.
22'
What might have been
Xhaka smacks a brilliant volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. He catches it so sweetly and Omlin has no chance, but it won't count due to offside in the build-up.
21'
SituationNo goal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionNo goal
Off the mark
© Getty Images
21'
Win Probability
Win Probability
This Match Fact documents significant changes in the probability of victory for both teams during the course of the match. The value is based on actual match play and incorporates existing Match Facts such as Expected Goals, Skill and Set-Piece Dange
0'
51.5 %
18'
73.5 %
19'
There's the opener!
Boniface has been threatening all game and now he has his maiden Bundesliga goal. Xhaka floated a diagonal ball from deep over to the left, Grimaldo heads it into the middle for Boniface to attack and he thumps a header past Omlin.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
17'
Xabi-ball
15'
Boniface lurking again
Wirtz pulls the strings once more, threading the ball through to Boniface in the Gladbach box. He nutmegs Friedrich and goes through on goal, but Omlin comes off his line to smother the danger.
10'
First chance
Wirtz darts into space in the right-hand channel before cutting the ball back for Boniface. The forward doesn't make a clean connection with his shot, though, and it bobbles wide.
7'
Tale of the tape
4'
Wöber has a go
The Gladbach left-back tries his luck from way out after spying Hradecky off his line, but his effort is well off target.
3'
Short corner
Hofmann and Grimaldo work a short corner on the right, but the latter's cross into the box isn't the best and it's headed clear.
1'
And we're off!
Buckle up, we're in for a cracker!
Kick-off!
Pre-match formalities
The players are now out on the pitch, ready for the handshakes and coin toss. We're moments away now.
Head-to-head
Leverkusen have the edge in this fixture historically, winning 33 (40 percent) of the 82 Bundesliga meetings so far. Gladbach have won on 22 occasions, with 27 draws. Games between these two tend to be goal-filled affairs, averaging 3.38 per game over the years.
0:08
Watch: Gladbach check in at Borussia-Park
Stanisic on the bench
Having sealed his loan move to Leverkusen from Bayern Munich earlier in the week, Josip Stanisic is in Leverkusen's squad for the first time and begins on the bench here.
1:31
Watch: Alonso and Leverkusen arrive
More on those teams
Gladbach are forced into one change, with Marvin Friedrich in for the injured Luca Netz. Alonso, meanwhile, sends out the same team that beat Leipzig on Matchday 1.
Gladbach starting line-up
Omlin - Friedrich, Itakura, Wöber - Honorat, Weigl (c), Neuhaus, Scally - Ngoumou, Cvancara, Plea
Gladbach subs
Nicolas, Chiarodia, Jantschke, Ullrich, Hack, Reitz, Herrmann, Ranos, Borges Sanches
Leverkusen starting line-up
Hradecky (c) - Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba - Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Hofmann, Wirtz - Boniface
Leverkusen subs
Kovar, Stanisic, Arthur, Fosu-Mensah, Andrich, Amiri, Mbamba, Puerta, Hlozek
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3:21
Watch: Alonso's new-look Leverkusen off to a flier
Gladbach team news
© Imago
Leverkusen team news
© Imago
Probable line-ups
© Imago
The Seoane factor
© Imago
2:03
Watch: Leverkusen 2-2 Gladbach - previous meeting
2:03
Watch: Augsburg 4-4 Gladbach
2:03
Watch: Leverkusen 3-2 Leipzig
0:30