Werkself Review #BMGB04: 'Spectacular opening' with late 'madness'

Summary: Held nerve until the end

With five changes to the starting line-up from the Supercup victory over Stuttgart, the Werkself were rewarded for their early dominance with a brilliant long-range strike by Granit Xhaka (12'). Victor Boniface (18') and Edmond Tapsoba (23') then both hit the woodwork, before Florian Wirtz eventually tapped in the second goal in the 38th minute. After the break, the improved hosts came back through goals from Nico Elvedi (60') and Tim Kleindienst (85'), but Bayer 04 once again rallied late. At the end of 10 minutes of added time, referee Robert Schröder awarded a penalty following a VAR review for a foul on Amine Adli in the opposition box. Wirtz missed the spot-kick but put away the rebound to earn the Black-and-Reds the first three points of the season. Read the full match report HERE.

Reaction: 'Demonstrated great mentality'

Afterwards, brace scorer Wirtz explained in relation to the last-minute goal: "I fancied deciding the game. In the end it was obviously a bit lucky that the rebound went in, but we've got the first three points of the season and that's what counts. We can build on this."

Xhaka gave his view of the game: "The first half was convincing from us. At half-time we said that it was far from over - and that proved to be the case. I know from my own experience that Gladbach never give up, but we once again demonstrated our great mentality and are very happy to have got the three points from such a tough away fixture."

Press review: 'Spectacular opening'

Bild went with the headline of "Madness in stoppage time" and described a "spectacular opening to the 62nd Bundesliga season". On Wirtz's last-minute strike, it wrote: "The end? NO! Because Leverkusen once again struck like champions at the end..." As for kicker: "Champions Bayer Leverkusen pick up from where they left off last season. After Gladbach levelled from 2-0 down in the second half, Wirtz struck deep into stoppage time to win it for the Werkself."

The Rheinische Post awarded the performances of goalscorers Xhaka and Wirtz a 2 rating, with goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky getting a 2-. There were 2s from the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger for Jonathan Tah and Xhaka as well as a 2.5 for Jeremie Frimpong and Wirtz. 

Personnel: Tah's landmark and two debuts

While Tah made hhis 275th Bundesliga appearance in Mönchengladbach (259 of them for Bayer 04), summer signings Martin Terrier and Aleix Garcia both made their debut in the German top flight against the Foals - and got the first win under their belts straight away.

Stats: Last-minute Wirtz close to record

Wirtz's winner in the 11th minute of stoppage time was the second-latest goal in over 60 years of Bundesliga history. Only Marius Bülter for FC Schalke 04 scored later against 1. FSV Mainz 05 in 2023 (90'+12). For his part, Leverkusen's second goalscorer of the day, Xhaka, has scored four Bundesliga goals from outside the penalty area in the current calendar year. In the five major leagues in Europe, only Phil Foden of Manchester City has scored more league goals from distance in 2024 (five).

Bayer 04 also extended the unbeaten run of the previous season's champions in the Bundesliga's official opening match to 23. Talking of unbeaten, the Werkself are now undefeated in 35 league outings. Only two teams in the history of the league have gone longer without defeat: Hamburger in 36 games from 1982 to 1983 and FC Bayern Munich in 53 from 2012 to 2014.

Looking ahead: Jena then Leipzig

The first week with two fixtures of the new season is already upon us. On Wednesday 28 August (kick-off 18:00 CEST), the Werkself play their DFB Cup first round tie at FC Carl Zeiss Jena. Three days later, at 18:30 CEST on Saturday evening, the German champions welcome RB Leipzig to the BayArena for the primetime Bundesliga clash.