Super Eagles and Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface was unable to find the back of the net despite playing 82 minutes in Bayer Leverkusen’s 3-2 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 2024/2025 Bundesliga season opener. Boniface, who led the line for Leverkusen, took five shots during the game but failed to score. However, the defending champions secured three points in this thrilling five goal encounter.
His Super Eagles teammate, Nathan Tella, was an unused substitute in the match.
Leverkusen started the game strongly, with Granit Xhaka scoring the season’s first goal via a powerful half volley in the 12th minute. Florian Wirtz doubled the lead in the 38th minute, giving Leverkusen a two goal cushion. However, the advantage was quickly wiped out as Nico Elvedi scored a header in the 59th minute, followed by debutant Tim Kleindienst’s equaliser just three minutes later.
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Despite the comeback from Mönchengladbach, Leverkusen eventually secured the win through a penalty goal by Florian Wirtz deep into stoppage time, as the match extended beyond 100 minutes due to a lengthy VAR review.
The remaining fixtures of the Bundesliga’s first week will take place over the weekend.
Editorial
Bayer Leverkusen’s season opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach provided football fans with a thrilling contest. While Victor Boniface didn’t manage to score, his presence in the attack was notable. Leverkusen’s ability to hold on and secure a win despite the fightback from Mönchengladbach speaks volumes about their determination to begin the new season on a winning note.
This match was also a showcase of the depth and quality of Leverkusen’s squad. Players like Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz took control when it mattered most, and it is their contributions that made the difference. As the Bundesliga season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Boniface fits into the attacking setup and whether he can rediscover his scoring touch.
For Leverkusen, it’s a positive start to their title defence, and they will look to build momentum in the coming weeks. The resilience they showed in the dying minutes, especially with Wirtz’s last gasp penalty, is exactly the kind of fighting spirit that wins championships.
Did You Know?
- Bayer Leverkusen last won the Bundesliga in the 2023/2024 season, going unbeaten throughout the campaign.
- Granit Xhaka, who scored the first goal of the new season, previously played for Borussia Mönchengladbach before joining Arsenal and then returning to the Bundesliga.
- Florian Wirtz, who scored twice in the match, is one of Germany’s brightest young talents and has been a key player for Bayer Leverkusen.
- Victor Boniface previously played in Belgium for Union Saint-Gilloise before making the move to Bayer Leverkusen.
- The VAR review that extended the match beyond 100 minutes is one of the longest stoppage periods in Bundesliga history.
