Granit Xhaka praised his aspect’s “pure mentality” as Florian Wirtz’s objective within the eleventh minute of stoppage time snatched a 3-2 win for reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen at Borussia Moenchengladbach in Friday’s Bundesliga opener. Leverkusen have been cruising at half-time, after a Xhaka stunner and a Wirtz objective gave Xabi Alonso’s aspect a two-goal lead. With rain teeming down at Gladbach’s Borussia Park, Nico Elvedi introduced the hosts nearer with a 59th-minute strike earlier than newcomer Tim Kleindienst levelled the scores with 5 minutes remaining.
A second-half delay when residence supporters set off flares within the stands meant a prolonged interval of added time. In the tenth minute of that stoppage time, Ko Itakura clipped Amine Adli’s boot within the field, bringing Wirtz to the spot.
Wirtz’s effort was saved however the Germany midfielder hammered the ball in on the rebound as his aspect received late once more.
Leverkusen constructed a fame for saving matches with last-gasp targets throughout their unimaginable run final season and Friday’s strike was formally the newest objective in league historical past.
“We began effectively within the first half and have been dominant. We mentioned at half-time we do not wish to allow them to again into it,” Xhaka instructed DAZN.
“They got here again however once more we confirmed our pure mentality and we will take the three factors again to Leverkusen from a troublesome away match.”
Leverkusen coach Alonso was confused.
“I’ve no clarification for that. It’s soccer. It’s occurred for us rather a lot.”
Wirtz, 21, mentioned he was “glad” to be given the duty of the spot-kick, saying he “needed to determine the sport”.
“I do know that on the finish it was a bit fortunate, however I do not wish to complain. We’re pleased that we received on the finish.
“We made it a bit onerous for ourselves. There’s loads of issues we have to hold engaged on however we will be pleased we obtained the three factors in the present day.”
Defending champions
Fresh off an unbeaten league and cup double final marketing campaign, Leverkusen picked up one other piece of silverware final Saturday by beating Stuttgart on penalties to elevate the German Supercup.
Gladbach, a fallen big who narrowly averted relegation final season, have been dealt a blow shortly earlier than kick-off, with star midfielder Manu Kone not noted of the squad as a consequence of an impending transfer away from the membership.
Leverkusen midfielder Xhaka blew the lid off the sport early, rocketing in a superb long-range effort after 13 minutes, giving Gladbach goalie Jonas Omlin no probability.
The effort was a mirror picture of the Switzerland captain’s objective in Leverkusen’s 1-0 German Cup ultimate win over Kaiserslautern in May.
Xhaka, who spent 4 years at Gladbach earlier than his transfer to Arsenal, held his palms within the air, refusing to rejoice the stunner towards his former membership.
A bleach-blonde Wirtz doubled Leverkusen’s lead after 38 minutes, blasting in on the flip in a crowded penalty space.
Kleindienst appeared to have pulled one again for the hosts simply earlier than half-time however the former Heidenheim ahead’s effort was struck off on VAR assessment.
Gladbach’s Elvedi, who misplaced possession simply earlier than Xhaka’s opener, redeemed himself for the hosts, heading in a rebound to chop Leverkusen’s lead 14 minutes into the second-half.
Kleindienst then levelled issues up late, pushing previous some sloppy defending from Edmond Tapsoba to blast the ball into the web.
In the ultimate minute of stoppage time, Adli went down within the field and a VAR assessment introduced Wirtz to the spot.
Omlin saved the low shot out however Wirtz was first to the rebound, knocking it residence to make sure his aspect began their title defence with three factors.
Friday’s league opener, which options the defending champions, was the primary with out Bayern Munich since 2013.
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