- Persistently Adhering to His Previous Pattern, Master Leverkusen Continues His Course
Another late-game winner from Leverkusen seals a flawless opening to the new campaign. International player Florian Wirtz netted in extra time (90.+11) to secure a 3-2 (2-0) victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach. As things stand, Coach Xabi Alonso's side are virtually invincible in the Bundesliga. Wirtz capitalized on a second chance created by his missed penalty, which was saved by Gladbach's keeper Jonas Omlin earlier.
Granit Xhaka (12') and Wirtz (38') had given Leverkusen a 2-0 lead initially. However, goals from Nico Elvedi (59') and Tim Kleindienst (85') made it appear that Leverkusen might not emerge victorious. Yet, in front of 54,042 spectators, Leverkusen, much like last season, scored a crucial goal late on.
Leverkusen remain undefeated in 35 straight Bundesliga matches, and 42 in all domestic competitions. For Gladbach, who began the season with high hopes, this was a disappointing first setback. The game was momentarily suspended following the break due to smoke bombs.
Leverkusen kick off the Bundesliga without changes in the starting lineup
"The past is history," Bayer coach Xabi Alonso had underlined on Thursday. At the commencement of play, he presented his champion squad devoid of any new starters, including Lukas Hradecky and the two ex-Gladbach players, Granit Xhaka and Jonas Hofmann. National team defender Jonathan Tah was also on the field, serving as the team's defensive captain. Whether his transfer to Bayern Munich will go through is still uncertain. The three new signings, Martin Terrier, Aleix Garcia, and Jeanuel Belocian, all remained on the bench.
Gladbach supporters, like twice before, celebrated the start of the season with a white march from the city center to the stadium. They missed the presence of midfielder Manu Kone, who may still depart to another club during this transfer period. Borussia's coach Gerardo Seoane, Alonso's predecessor in Leverkusen, introduced two new players, Kevin Stoeger and Tim Kleindienst, into the starting lineup.
Subdued jubilation following Xhaka's sensational goal
The match began rather intensely, with the visitors displaying a more mature approach and dominating the play. Leverkusen's early 1-0 lead was somewhat fortuitous, as Xhaka, following a pass from Jeremie Frimpong, swept a powerful shot into the top corner from just outside the box. The 31-year-old, who had spent four years with Borussia, merely celebrated his dream goal modestly. Six minutes later, Gladbach's crossbar trembled, when Victor Boniface's counter-attack struck the woodwork.
Leverkusen then displayed more courage and produced their first genuine chance with Kleindienst, but Borussia struck back in a counter-attack, with Wirtz finishing Frimpong's pass with a left-footed shot into the far corner. Kleindienst's goal was later disallowed after a video review due to an offside infringement.
Gladbach battled back, with Elvedi's header narrowing the deficit to 1-2, subsequently making the game more open. Kleindienst then roused the Borussia supporters, leading to a thrilling final phase with extra time - and a fortunate outcome for Leverkusen.
Despite expressing his emphasis on focusing on the present, Coach Alonso stuck with his champion squad for the match, with Xhaka among them. Announcing, "I'm not going to dwell on the past," Alonso opted to keep his starting lineup unchanged.
Despite this, Gladbach fans remained hopeful, celebrating the start of the season with a white march, even without their absent midfielder Manu Kone. However, when asked about his future, Kone remained uncommitted, saying, "I'm not going to make any decisions now."
