“We conceded unnecessary goals today otherwise we didn’t give much away and we played well. We definitely wanted to win the game and after the equaliser we set out to take all three points. It’s a pity we conceded so late on,” said Julian Baumgartlinger after the match.
Head coach Roger Schmidt had to manage without Chicharito (broken hand), Stefan Kießling (back in full training after hip injury) and Lars Bender (ankle injury). Julian Brandt returned straight to the squad after Rio 2016 but the 20-year-old started on the bench. The two new signings Julian Baumgartlinger and Kevin Volland made their Bundesliga debuts for Leverkusen. Former Bayer 04 player Christoph Kramer started in central midfield for the hosts.
“The fans can look forward to an exciting game with both teams looking to get on the front foot at the right moment,” predicted Roger Schmidt before the game and he was wrong. With the thermometer reading over 30 degrees both sides endeavoured to press forward from the start and it was evenly balanced encounter in the opening stages of the game.
The first chance fell to the team in red and black: After just five minutes central defender Jonathan Tah headed just wide from a Volland corner.
Leno in form
On 21 minutes Bernd Leno kept the Werkself in the game with an outstanding but painful intervention: Raffael left Tin Jedvaj standing and he fired in a shot from a tight angle. Leno was on the spot and he parried the powerful shot and saved the follow up effort from Wendt with his head. What a star.
Baumgartlinger and Charles Aránguiz worked together brilliantly in the centre but Gladbach posed a constant threat with their quick counter-attacks. The best chance fell to Jonathan Tah again. The central defender imposed himself from a Volland free kick and headed against the bar on 41 minutes. The Werkself could have had the lead.
Unlucky goal against
In the third minute of added time came a bitter setback: Tah deflected a quickly taken Gladbach free kick into the path of André Hahn who left the impressive Leno helpless in a one-on-one to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at the break.
The Werkself came out in determined mood for the second half and they pressed forward in search of a leveller. However, Bellarabi and Co. were unable to land the crucial blow. Leno was soon forced to show his ability again when he made a brilliant save from a Raffael free kick. The replay showed that Leno reacted brilliantly to a minimal deflection from Jedvaj’s brow on 54 minutes.
Roger Schmidt sent on Admir Mehmedi and Julian Brandt in place of Kevin Volland and Hakan Calhanoglu just after the hour mark. The game became more and more competitive. And when Aránguiz went off with a knee injury Roger Schmidt opted to bring on another striker in Joel Pohjanpalo. And the sub found the back of the net.
Pohjanpalo levels
114 seconds after coming off the bench Pohjanpalo headed the leveller to make it 1-1 after a headed assist from Karim Bellarabi. Kampl put Wendell through before that and he put in a smart cross for Bellarabi. An admirable and deserved equaliser with ten minutes to play.
That scoreline did not last long. Five minutes later the sub Thorgan Hazard set up Lars Stindl and although he looked offside he beat Jedvaj to the ball and he beat Leno to restore the Gladbach lead on 85 minutes. The Werkself threw everything into attack but were unable to find an equaliser in the five minutes of added time.
The first international break of the season is round the corner before the first Bundesliga home game on Saturday 10 September at 15.30 CET against Hamburg SV.
Match stats:
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Sommer - Elvedi, A.Christensen, Jantschke (Vestergaard 46’) - Strobl, Kramer - Traoré (Johnson 61’), Wendt - Stindl - Hahn (Hazard 84’), Raffael
Bayer 04: Leno - Jedvaj, Tah, Toprak, Wendell - Baumgartlinger, Aránguiz (Pohjanpalo 77’) - Calhanoglu (Brandt 67’), Kampl - Volland (Mehmedi 63’), Bellarabi
Goals: 1-0 Hahn (45+3’), 1-1 Pohjanpalo (80’), 2-1 Stindl (85’)
Booked: Kramer, Stindl, Strobl - Toprak, Bellarabi, Wendell
Referee: Dr. Felix Brych(Munich)
Attendance: 51,000
Bayer 04 earned a 2-2 draw at FC Augsburg on Bundesliga Matchday 3 with a late equaliser. The Werkself led at half-time through Christian Kofane's strike but the hosts, who went in the game as league leaders, turned it around with a quickfire double from Michael Gregoritsch after the break. The Black-and-Reds didn't give up, though, and salvaged a point thanks to substitute Patrik Schick's flick in the 89th minute.
Show more
After the first win of the season against 1. FC Union Berlin (4-0) last weekend, the Werkself are aiming to collect another three points at FC Augsburg on Saturday 12 September (kick-off 15:30 CEST). The hosts, meanwhile, are enjoying their best-ever start to a Bundesliga campaign and go into Matchday 3 top of the table for the first time. The Matchday News.
Show more
The Werkself are away to FC Augsburg on matchday 3 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The game at the WWK Arena against the current – and for the first time – league leaders of the German top flight is on Saturday 12 September at 15:30 CEST. Ahead of the match, head coach Carles Martínez spoke about this week’s training and the team’s approach to the fixture, as they face an opponent brimming with confidence. The Spaniard also addressed a number of squad matters.
Show more
FC Augsburg are top of the table for the first time in their Bundesliga history. After two wins for starters, FCA lead the German top-flight with six points and a goal difference of 7 to 1. This Saturday, 12 September (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), Augsburg are looking to build on their strong start to the season against the Werkself. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Following the closure of the 2026 summer transfer window, the Bayer 04 men's and women's first teams lined up for a first-ever joint photo at the BayArena. Werkself fans can now download the official photos for free.
Show more
