Afrigather 
Florian Wirtz produced one other late present for Bayer Leverkusen because the Bundesliga champions kickstarted their title defence with a dramatic 3-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.
Leverkusen regarded set to start out their marketing campaign with a degree, having seen Nico Elvedi and Tim Kleindienst cancel out Granit Xhaka and Wirtz’s first-half strikes.
Nevertheless, as they confirmed final season on their strategy to a maiden Bundesliga crown, Wirtz struck within the eleventh minute of damage time to increase their unbeaten league run.
Xabi Alonso’s aspect had been cruising on the break as Xhaka’s beautiful strike from distance was adopted by Wirtz’s first of the sport seven minutes earlier than the break.
The hosts would draw stage simply earlier than the hour-mark as Elvedi nodded the ball residence after seeing his preliminary effort brilliantly stored out by Lukas Hradecky.
And with the strain mounting, Kleindienst marked his Monchengladbach debut with a objective 5 minutes from time. Nevertheless, but extra drama would unfold.
Leverkusen had been awarded a late penalty for Ko Itakura’s foul on substitute Amine Adli, with Wirtz seeing his spot-kick saved, solely to observe up on the rebound.
This Season.
Final Season.
Any Season.WE. DON’T. GIVE. UP. pic.twitter.com/ibc7MAWMz2
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) August 23, 2024
Information Debrief: New season, standard Leverkusen
Leverkusen proceed to maintain followers throughout the globe on the sting of their seats, with Alonso’s aspect now unbeaten of their final 35 Bundesliga matches.
After scoring 18 targets final season, Wirtz began the marketing campaign with a brace, together with his two targets taking his complete for Die Werkself to 43 in 154 appearances.
He additionally turned the fifth Leverkusen participant, after Christian Schreier, Ulf Kirsten, Bernd Schneider and Stefan Kießling, to attain in two consecutive opening matches of a Bundesliga marketing campaign.
