The Bundesliga is kicking off its 2024/25 season, and what better way to start than with the reigning champions, Bayer Leverkusen, taking on Borussia Mönchengladbach? The match is set for Friday night, and you can feel the excitement in the air.
Borussia Mönchengladbach: A Season of Survival
Last season was a nail-biter for Gladbach fans. The team barely avoided dropping to Bundesliga 2, only securing their place in the top flight on Matchday 33. But with new signings like Tim Kleindienst, Kevin Stöger, and Philipp Sander, there’s hope for a stronger showing this time around. These fresh faces already made their mark in the DFB Cup win over Erzgebirge Aue, and now the real test begins.
Facing Leverkusen, the defending champions, will be no walk in the park. Gladbach’s manager, Gerardo Seoane, is probably breathing a sigh of relief to have Nico Elvedi back in defense, especially with Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak stretching to 34 games. And let’s not forget Robin Hack, the top scorer from last season, who’s back in action after a foot injury. The Gladbach attack, led by Alassane Pléa and Franck Honorat, with some help from Kleindienst and Stöger, could pose a real threat to Leverkusen’s defense.
Bayer Leverkusen: Champions Ready to Defend
Leverkusen comes into this season riding high after a phenomenal last season, clinching both the league and cup titles. And they’ve already added another trophy to their collection, winning the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart. Even with some key players missing, they showed their mettle, with Patrik Schick scoring late to push the match to penalties, where they held their nerve to win.
Xabi Alonso’s squad is looking strong, even without Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, and Alejandro Grimaldo in the starting lineup for the Supercup. New signings like Martin Terrier, despite his red card, and Aleix García, who paired up with Granit Xhaka, are already showing promise. There’s depth in this team, and Alonso has some tough choices to make for Friday’s lineup. The only notable absentee is Exequiel Palacios, but Leverkusen’s bench is stacked, so they’ll field a powerful XI.
What to Watch For
Gladbach is one of the few teams that managed to keep Leverkusen from scoring last season, holding them to a 0-0 draw back in January. That alone makes this matchup intriguing. Robin Hack was Gladbach’s top scorer last season, and he’ll be eager to outshine Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, who had four more goals to his name.
Keep an eye on Stöger, too—he was involved in more shots on goal than anyone else in the Bundesliga last season. Leverkusen, however, has been a fortress, not losing a league match since the end of the 2022/23 season. And with Xhaka back at Borussia-Park, where he once played for Gladbach, there’s an added layer of drama.
Leverkusen’s dominance on set pieces was clear last season, netting 21 goals, while Gladbach led the league with 10 goals from corners. It’s these little battles that might just decide the outcome on Friday night.
Expected Lineups
For Gladbach, expect to see Omlin leading the charge from the back, with Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, and Netz forming the defense. The midfield will likely feature Reitz and Weigl, with Honorat, Stöger, and Pléa supporting Kleindienst up front.
Leverkusen will probably line up with Hrádecký in goal, supported by Tapsoba, Tah, and Hincapié in defense. Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, and Grimaldo should fill the midfield, with Wirtz and Adli playing behind Boniface in attack.
This match is more than just the start of a new season; it’s a chance for both teams to set the tone for what’s to come. Whether you’re rooting for the underdog or the champions, Friday night’s game is one you won’t want to miss.
