Bundesliga
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
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