Florian Wirtz scored a penalty rebound in the 11th minute of added time to get Bayer Leverkusen's title defence off to a winning start, after Borussia Mönchengladbach had come from 2-0 down to level in an absorbing opening to the 2024/25 Bundesliga season.

Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-3 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Xhaka 12', 0-2 Wirtz 38', 1-2 Elvedi 60', 2-2 Kleindienst 85' (assist: Stöger), 2-3 Wirtz (90'+11)

Leverkusen started into the contest with the confidence of a team unbeaten in some 41 competitive matches against German opposition. Former Gladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka scored a fitting opener, firing high past Jonas Omlin from almost 25 yards out to send the travelling fans - still riding the crest of a wave following last season's historic domestic double - into raptures. Lukáš Hrádecký had to be alert to an effort from Rocco Reitz, but Bayer had the bit between their teeth as Victor Boniface and Edmond Tapsoba crashed quick-fire strikes against the woodwork. Piero Hincapié stopped Tim Kleindienst from bringing the Foals level against the run of play, before Wirtz slapped in his first goal of the campaign after Omlin had denied Álex Grimaldo at close range. Kleindienst did have the ball in the net late in the first half, but the goal was chalked off for a foul on Hincapié upon VAR review.

Omlin pulled off strong saves from Jonas Hofmann and Jeremie Frimpong as Leverkusen went in search of the third goal which would surely have put the result beyond any doubt. Gladbach hadn't read the script, though, and halved the deficit with an hour gone. After Hrádecký saved brilliantly from Nico Elvedi, the Borussia defender was quickest to head in the rebound - the goal standing this time following a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside in the build-up against Ko Itakura. Xabi Alonso responded by introducing summer signing Martin Terrier, who tested Omlin's reflexes with his first meaningful touch. Boniface put a Grimaldo cross wide and Jonathan Tah headed straight at Omlin, before Gladbach got back on level terms. Kevin Stöger's slide-rule pass found fellow summer signing Kleindienst, who slid in ahead of his marker to fire past Hrádecký. Grimaldo and Tomáš Čvančara fired over in a dramatic finale, which culminated in Wirtz having a 101st-minute penalty saved before firing in the follow-up after a VAR decision against Itakura.

Watch: Granit Xhaka on Bayer's never-say-never DNA

Match stats

• Alonso's Bayer have scored 41 goals in the 80th minute or later.
• Leverkusen have not lost a Bundesliga match since the final day of 2022/23 (3-0 vs. Bochum). The 2024/25 double winners are now unbeaten in 42 league and DFB Cup matches.
• Xhaka scored his 10th Bundesliga goal (four for Leverkusen, six for Gladbach).
• Wirtz was also on target on the opening day of last season - his first of a career-best 11 Bundesliga goals.
• Gladbach were the only team to stop Leverkusen from scoring in the Bundesliga last term, holding the champions to a goalless draw on 27 January.
• The USA's Joe Scally made his 100th competitive appearance for Gladbach.

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Teams

Gladbach: Omlin (c) – Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Netz (Chiarodia 90'+5) - Reitz (Sander 71'), Weigl - Honorat (Lainer 90'+6), Stöger, Pléa (Čvančara 71') - Kleindienst (Ngoumou 90'+6)
Unused subs: Nicolas, Friedrich, Neuhaus, Hack
Out: Borges Sanches (knee), Olschowsky (knee)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane

Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich (García 81'), Grimaldo - Wirtz, Hofmann (Terrier 65') - Boniface (Adli 81')
Unused subs: Kovář, Kossounou, Arthur, Belocian, Schick, Tella
Out: Palacios (knee)
Coach: Xabi Alonso

About the clubs

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

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Borussia Mönchengladbach

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