Yann Sommer produced two penalty saves, but it wasn't enough to prevent Bayer Leverkusen claiming the Rhine derby spoils with a thrilling win against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday.

Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Andrich 51' (assist: Wirtz), 0-2 Schick 74', 1-2 Elvedi 81'

Gladbach boss Adi Hütter ushered new signing Marvin Friedrich straight into his starting line-up as part of a back three that were forced to absorb a lot of early pressure. The Foals sat deep, yet found relief on the counter thanks to the tirless effort of Breel Embolo which almost led to Florian Neuhaus opening the scoring on the quarter-hour mark. Leverkusen threatened in the rare moments they injected pace into proceedings, but despite having the greater number of shots, did little to trouble Sommer with neither side deserving of a lead at the break.

Friedrich's debut - following his move from Union Berlin - took a turn for the worse when his challenge on Karim Bellarabi inside the area opened the door for Leverkusen within five minutes of the restart. Sommer did well to save Patrik Schick's penalty but had no time to savour the moment as Robert Andrich scored from the ensuing corner. Schick then atoned for his penalty miss when he bundled home a free-kick a quarter of an hour from time. Nico Elvedi's goal - also from a corner - sparked comeback hopes for Gladbach before Sommer produced his second penalty save of the evening. He threw himself low to his left to deny Kerem Demirbay three minutes from time after Jordan Beyer had tripped Florian Wirtz. The Swiss international's spot-kick heroics weren't enough for midtable Gladbach to avoid defeat though, as Leverkusen climbed to third.

Watch: Sommer on his penalty saves

Match stats

• Sommer became the first goalkeeper to save two penalties in a Bundesliga match since Nuremberg’s Raphael Schäfer almost eight years ago. The last Gladbach No.1 to achieve this feat was Uli Sude in April 1985.
• Switzerland international Sommer had only saved two of 32 Bundesliga penalties faced before saving both of Leverkusen's efforts.
• The 46 shots on goal produced by Gladbach (16) and Leverkusen (30) represents a new season high.
• Schick has 18 goals to his name - a Leverkusen club record 19 games into a campaign.
• Andrich has scored three goals this season - all of which have come away from home.
• Only Thomas Müller boasts more assists this season (16) than Leverkusen's Wirtz (nine).

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Line-ups

Gladbach: Sommer - Elvedi, Jantschke (Beyer 70'), Friedrich - Lainer (Herrmann 79'), Neuhaus, Kone, Netz (Thuram 61') - Benes (Scally 61'), Stindl (c) (Plea 79') - Embolo
Unused subs: Sippel, Ginter, Müsel, Noß
Out: Bensebaini (Africa Cup of Nations), Doucoure (not included), Hofmann (knee), Kramer (illness), Zakaria (not included)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Frimpong (Fosu-Mensah 56'), Tah, Hincapie, Bakker - Andrich, Demirbay - Bellarabi (Adli 81'), Wirtz (Amiri 89'), Diaby (Retsos 89') - Schick
Unsued subs: Lunev, Alario, Gedikli, Sertdemir
Out: Aranguiz (match fitness), Baumgartlinger (knee), Kossounou (Africa Cup of Nations), Lomb (not included), Palacios (back), Paulinho (not included), Sinkgraven (groin), Tapsoba (Africa Cup of Nations)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane

About the clubs

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

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Borussia Mönchengladbach

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