Bayer Leverkusen opened the 62nd Bundesliga marketing campaign with a 3-2 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. … [+]
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The 62nd Bundesliga season kicked off simply because the 61st Bundesliga season ended all too usually, with a really late Bayer Leverkusen win. This time, it took till the eleventh minute of additional time for Florian Wirtz to attain the winner as he put away the rebound of his missed penalty.
Earlier than the penalty, Gladbach had finished every little thing to take not less than two factors of the German champions. After Leverkusen made it 2-0 due to objectives by Granit Xhaka (12’) and Wirtz (38’), Gladbach mounted a comeback. The Foals made it 2-2 due to objectives by Nico Elvedi (59’) and new signing Tim Kleindienst (85’).
Kleindienst, actually, thought he had scored within the first half however fouled Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie earlier than heading the ball throughout the road. “They checked every little thing in opposition to us,” Gladbach managing director of sport Roland Virkus stated. “There wasn’t a single state of affairs they checked in our favor.”
That, too, is extra of the identical previous, because the 2023/24 season flips to the 2024/25 season. There are infinite debates about VAR.
Gladbach followers received’t like to listen to it, although. The one true criticism that could possibly be voiced in opposition to referee Robert Schröder is that he used VAR within the first place for each selections. The foul on Hincapie forward of Kleindienst’s first-half purpose and the foul on Amine Adli deep into harm time had been evident in actual time and may have been referred to as instantly.
“I can perceive why a game-deciding choice results in discussions,” Schröder stated after the sport earlier than explaining his choice to provide the penalty. “However he doesn’t play the ball and as a substitute the opponent; by the legislation, that’s a foul.”
The choices had been proper, however the time it took to make them will be rightfully criticized. The referee staff took 5 minutes to resolve on the Kleindienst state of affairs.
Certainly, three VAR selections took longer than essential to test. These checks, plus the pyrotechnic present unleashed by Gladbach, meant that we had 11 minutes of harm time, giving Leverkusen sufficient time to win this recreation, in spite of everything.
Florian Wirtz scored a brace to safe his membership all three factors. (Picture by Lars Baron/Getty Photographs)
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The refereeing selections apart, the stats underline that Leverkusen greater than deserved the victory. Leverkusen completed the sport with 54% possession, 604 vs 446 passes, and an xG of 4.01 vs. 2.19. Maybe the one level of criticism in direction of Alonso’s facet is that they didn’t end off the opponent a bit quicker.
On the flipside, there are additionally loads of positives to remove from Gladbach’s perspective. New signings Kevin Stöger and Kleindienst appeared harmful all through the match. Kleindienst, specifically, appears poised to create a hazardous partnership with up-and-coming German nationwide staff star Rocco Reitz.
After all, Gladbach’s story is nicely documented. For years, the Foals have been Bayern Munich’s bogey staff, displaying up for these two fixtures whereas taking part in in any other case unmemorable seasons. In different phrases, Gladbach might want to present that they will show this sort of efficiency week in and week out.
That can also be a superb lesson for Leverkusen. Die Werkself is now the staff everybody within the Bundesliga desires to beat. That implies that each match will really feel like a cup last, as opponents will deliver their A-game.
Bayern Munich, Leverkusen’s largest title rival, has relished this for nearly a decade. Certainly, because the Bundesliga kicks off, Der Rekordmeister stays the largest title contender for Leverkusen.
Bayern’s typically chaotic switch summer time means they received’t be the one one difficult Leverkusen. With their new additions of Maxi Beier, Serhou Guirassy, Pascal Groß, and Waldemar Anton, Dortmund seems considerably improved. RB Leipzig, within the meantime, has compensated Dani Olmo’s departure by signing Antonio Nusa.
Then there may be all the time one shock staff to reckon with—that shock staff could possibly be final 12 months’s shock staff VfB Stuttgart. Though Stuttgart misplaced Guirassy Anton to Dortmund, the membership has made some vital signings as nicely and took Leverkusen all the best way final weekend within the DFL Supercup.
After all, Leverkusen received the Supercup by scoring late. Certainly, their uncanny home undefeated run has now been stretched to 53 video games. It’s a document run, and as Leverkusen continues to look unbeatable, in addition they stay the favorites to win the Bundesliga title.