Schick fires Leverkusen past Gladbach

Borussia Mönchengladbach 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Schick (77')

Both sides came into this game at Borussia-Park looking for a win to restore some confidence heading into the business end of the league campaign. Only one side really showed intent to do that, though, as the visitors dominated the early goings. Moussa Diaby was the first to test Yann Sommer with his fierce shot at the near post, while Demarai Gray - starting in the absence of the suspended Leon Bailey - was having fun on the opposite flank as well. It took 20 minutes for the Foals to find their feet with Alassane Plea forcing a save from Lennart Grill before Hannes Wolf looked certain to score from close range, but saw his shot blocked by Jeremie Frimpong on his first start in the Bundesliga. Leverkusen were controlling possession, but also working well on the counter-attack when they could, and it was Diaby who had another chance on the half-hour mark as the away side broke forward. His shot was once again parried saved by Sommer, though Schick should have done better with the rebound - his first touch sending the ball straight back into the Swiss goalkeeper’s grateful arms.

Leverkusen had started the first half well, but it was Gladbach who came flying out of the blocks after the break. Plea couldn't curl his shot far enough across goal before Wolf was once again denied by a last-ditch block in front of Grill, with Jonathan Tah in the right place this time. The Foals thought they had earned a chance to score from the spot as Frimpong fouled Marcus Thuram, but a check from VAR found an offside in the build-up against Valentino Lazaro. Leverkusen got their first chance of the half after 68 minutes as Nadiem Amiri curled just over from close-range following fine work from Diaby, but as the game looked to be heading for a stalemate the deadlock was broken in the final 15 minutes. Once again Leverkusen countered with Diaby down the right and his shot was saved by Sommer, but Schick was first onto the rebound to slide the ball home. Grill was forced into action late on to tip over Matthias Ginter's shot as Leverkusen recorded a first league win in three to climb - temporarily at least - to fifth in the table.

• This was the first time Gladbach have failed to score at home under Marco Rose since the opening day of the 2019/20 season against Schalke.
• Three of Schick's seven league goals this season have been the opening goal of a game.
• Gladbach have lost their last three home league matches in a row for the first time since September 2015.
• Leverkusen won for the first time in five away games and have now won five of their last six competitive games in Gladbach.

Watch: Schick: "We had a little bit of luck"

Gladbach: Sommer (c) - Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini - Zakaria, Neuhaus - Lazaro (Herrmann 81'), Wolf, Thuram (Traore 81') - Plea (Embolo 70')
Unused subs: Sippel, Lang, Beyer, Wendt, Jantschke, Reitz
Out: Hofmann (thigh), Kramer (ligament), Stindl (suspended)
Coach: Marco Rose

Leverkusen: Grill - Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Wendell - Amiri, Aranguiz (c), Demirbay - Diaby, Schick, Gray
Unused subs: Johnen, Lomb, Dragovic, Alario, Jedvaj, Weiser, Palacios, Bellarabi
Out: Arias (ankle), Bailey (suspended) Baumgartlinger (knee), L. Bender (knee), S. Bender (knee), Fosu-Mensah (knee), Hradecky (heel), Paulinho (knee), Sinkgraven (thigh), Wirtz (not included)
Coach: Peter Bosz