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Florian Wirtz (L) of Bayer 04 Leverkusen scores a goal in the Bundesliga game against Borussia Monchengladbach at Borussia-Park in Monchengladbach, August 23, 2024. /CFP
The late goals just keep coming for Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
The defending Bundesliga champions needed a goal in the 11th minute of injury time to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 3-2 Friday after giving up a two-goal lead in the opening game of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season.
Xabi Alonso's team went undefeated in both the league and the DFB-Pokal last season, in part thanks to a number of late goals and comebacks, and they continued in the same vein at the Borussia-Park. Florian Wirtz saw his last-gasp penalty saved, but converted the rebound to secure the win.
Granit Xhaka had given the visitors the lead with a thunderous strike in the 12th minute and Wirtz made it 2-0 in the 38th after Borussia failed to clear their lines.
Leverkusen then hit the woodwork twice, while Borussia had a goal chalked off after a video review just before halftime.
However, Nico Elvedi started the hosts' comeback after 59 minutes and new signing Tim Kleindienst leveled it up in the 85th.
As so often with Leverkusen, there was still time for a final twist.
The visitors were awarded a penalty for a foul in the area deep into stoppage time, and while goalkeeper Jonas Omlin saved Wirtz's spot kick, he couldn't prevent last season's Bundesliga player of the year from slotting in the rebound as Leverkusen took its unbeaten run in the league to 35 games.
Play had been briefly halted at the start of the second half after fans lit multiple flares in the stands and part of the field was covered in smoke.