Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Borussia Monchengladbach: Wirtz stars as Alonso's side keep pressure on Bayern
Reuters with editing via Stats Perform
January 18, 2025 04:11 MYT
January 18, 2025 04:11 MYT
Florian Wirtz played a starring role as Bayer Leverkusen overcame Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 at BayArena.
The influential midfielder scored two goals and set up the other, as Xabi Alonso's side maintained the pressure on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
Leverkusen suffered an early setback with an ankle injury forcing off Martin Terrier after just nine minutes.
However, they took the lead in the 32nd minute when Wirtz skipped away from a challenge before slotting past Monchengladbach goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas.
The Germany international doubled the hosts' lead from the penalty spot just after the hour mark after Julian Weigl handled in the box.
He then turned provider for Patrik Schick in the 74th minute, before Tim Kleindienst grabbed a consolation for the visitors in stoppage time.
We are SO back though.#B04BMG pic.twitter.com/wlwzBfL5Ql — Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 18, 2025
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Data Debrief: Leverkusen record 11th straight win
Following Bayern's victory over Wolfsburg earlier on Saturday, Leverkusen returned to within four points of the Bundesliga leaders with an 11th straight win across all competitions.
The Werkself's only longer winning streak since their promotion to Bundesliga in 1979 came last season, when they won 17 consecutive games between September and November 2023.
Though academic in terms of the result, Kleindienst's late strike saw him become only the second player to score three Bundesliga goals against Leverkusen since the start of 2024 after Lois Openda.