Head coach Xabi Alonso made six changes to his starting XI compared with the 1-0 home win against Mainz 05 in the week and that included the return of the keeper Lukas Hradecky and key defender Jonathan Tah. Martin Terrier also started but, shortly after providing an impressive cross to Patrik Schick on five minutes, the Frenchman had to be substituted due to injury (8'). He was replaced by Piero Hincapie.
The visitors from the Lower Rhine were well organised in defence and made it difficult for the Werkself to break into their penalty area. Robert Andrich tried a long-range effort on 20 minutes and Schick a header from a cross five minutes later. It was just after the half-hour mark that Arthur won the ball and Granit Xhaka played a through ball for Florian Wirtz to leave Ko Itakura standing before slotting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to open the scoring (32'). 1-0 was the score at half-time.
The first chance after the restart fell to Alejandro Grimaldo in a counter-attack but the BMG keeper Moritz Nicolas was able to make the save (55'). Five minutes later, Grimaldo tried to cross but the ball hit the hand of Julian Weigl in the penalty area and referee Harm Osmers pointed to the spot. Wirtz calmly converted the penalty to seal his brace and make it 2-0 (62’). The Werkself then eased off somewhat and focused on isolated attacks – as on 75 minutes. Hincapie played a great long ball to Wirtz. The latter flicked the ball on to Schick leaving the Czech with a tap-in to make it 3-0 with his twelfth goal of the season. In the closing stages, Jonas Hofmann came off the bench to make his first appearance in the new year and Tim Kleindienst netted a consolation goal for the visitors at 3-1 (90+1'). The final whistle came shortly after that and the Werkself celebrated an eleventh win in succession with their fans.
Bayer 04 are next in action in the Champions League. The Werkself are away to top Spanish side Atletico Madrid on Matchday 7 in the league phase. The match on Tuesday, 21 January, kicks off at 21.00 CET. That is followed by another top game on the road four days later, this time in the Bundesliga, away to RB Leipzig.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Arthur, Tah, Tapsoba - Tella (Frimpong 63'), Xhaka (Palacios 81'), Andrich, Grimaldo (Garcia 81') - Wirtz (Hofmann 81'), Terrier (Hincapie 8’) - Schick
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Nicolas - Lainer, Itakura, Elvedi, Ullrich (Netz 75') - Reitz (Chiarodia 81’), Weigl, Sander (Fukuda 87’) - Cvancara (Plea 75'), Kleindienst, Hack (Stöger 75')
Goals: 1-0 Wirtz (32’), 2-0 Wirtz (62’ pen.), 3-0 Schick (74’), 3-1 Kleindienst (90+1’)
Yellow cards: Cvancara, Lainer
Referee: Harm Osmers (Hannover)
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
Bayer 04 were beaten 2-1 at home by Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 12 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Although the Werkself had more of the play in the first half, the visitors went ahead through Aaron Anselmino. Karim Adeyemi doubled their advantage after the hour, but Christian Kofane gave Leverkusen late hope, although ultimately to no avail.
Show more
There won’t just be plenty of excitement on the pitch as Bayer 04 host Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena at 18:30 CET on Saturday. Outside the stadium there will be collection points for food donations to the Leverkusen Foodbank, which will also benefit from the profits of a jersey raffle in the Fanwelt afterwards. There will also be a minute’s silence before kick-off following the passing of long-time Werkself player Dieter Herzog, before two fan clubs are honoured for their decades-long support at half-time and fans receive a talk about Orange Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show more
Bayer 04 go into the first of two successive clashes with Borussia Dortmund boosted by their Champions League win at Manchester City. Ahead of the Bundesliga top match on Saturday, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the tight schedule, BVB's strengths and returning squad members.
Show more
Borussia Dortmund are doing very well in terms of points and results in the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. BVB have only suffered two defeats to date this term. Now coach Niko Kovac's team are away to the Werkself on Saturday night, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET) in the top match on Bundesliga matchday 12. The two teams meet again three days later in the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie in Dortmund. Two very competitive encounters are on the cards. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
The annual Black and Red Week is up and running. And day four on Black Friday 28 November, includes discounts on all New Balance items including jerseys...
Show more
