Bayer 04 Leverkusen continued their sensational run of form with a 3-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach at the BayArena, maintaining pressure on Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern Munich. The match showcased the talents of young star Florian Wirtz, who scored twice and assisted another goal, leading his team to their eleventh consecutive win across all competitions.
The game kicked off with Leverkusen eager to extend their winning streak, having already achieved ten consecutive victories prior to this match. The Werkself, under the guidance of coach Xabi Alonso, faced Mönchengladbach, who had struggled to regain form after losing their first two games of the new year.
Despite the visitors beginning with some intensity, Leverkusen found their rhythm quickly. The first major blow came when Martin Terrier, who had been instrumental, suffered an injury and was replaced early on by Piero Hincapie. Nonetheless, Leverkusen dominated ball possession and looked dangerous throughout. The breakthrough came at the 32nd minute when Wirtz executed a stunning goal after receiving a diagonal pass from Granit Xhaka. He beautifully maneuvered past Ko Itakura, scoring with his precision shot.
After the halftime break, Gladbach came out with renewed energy, but it was Leverkusen who extended their lead. A pivotal moment occurred when referee Harm Osmers awarded Leverkusen a penalty following handball by Gladbach's Julian Weigl. Wirtz confidently converted the penalty, putting Leverkusen up 2-0.
Leverkusen wasn't done yet. Just twelve minutes later, Wirtz turned provider for Patrik Schick, setting him up with a perfectly timed pass, allowing Schick to finish effortlessly, making it 3-0. This was Schick's twelfth goal of the season, illustrating the effective attacking partnership blooming between him and Wirtz.
Despite being down by three goals, Mönchengladbach showed resilience and found the net late in the match through Tim Kleindienst, who scored during stoppage time. Though it wasn't enough to change the outcome, it was his tenth goal of the season and provided some solace for the visitors.
With this victory, Leverkusen narrowed the gap to the top position as they chase FC Bayern, trailing by just four points. The team has demonstrated remarkable efficiency, contrasting their performance compared to last season, where they often struggled to convert late opportunities. This improved consistency marks them as serious contenders for the title this season.
On the other side, Mönchengladbach's disappointing start to the year continued. They are now positioned at the mid-table with 24 points, struggling to maintain competitive momentum. After suffering defeats against Bayern and VfL Wolfsburg recently, coach Gerardo Seoane faces the challenge of reigniting his team’s confidence.
Leverkusen's dominance was notable, controlling the game with more ball possession and fewer defensive worries. They outperformed Gladbach on various metrics including expected goals, illustrating their attacking prowess. Wirtz, especially, stood out, as he repeatedly threatened the Gladbach defense, culminating in him being named the player of the match.
This victory secures Leverkusen's place as one of the top teams this season, exhibiting the title-winning form reminiscent of their championship season last year. They head next to face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, aiming to build on their current momentum.
The upcoming matches will be pivotal for both teams; Leverkusen looks to extend their outstanding form, whereas Gladbach desperately needs to recover before they lose more ground.