Leverkusen edges Monchengladbach in Bundesliga

BERLIN - Bayer Leverkusen twice came from behind to clinch a 4-3 win over Borussia Monchengladbach to conclude the seventh round of Bundesliga matches on Sunday.

Lucas Alario's brace helped the Werkself overpower Monchengladbach, who twice failed to defend their lead gifted by Lars Stindl.

Leverkusen assumed control from the starting whistle and had chances through Leon Bailey and Alario in the opening stages.

However, the opener was scored at the other end, as Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky brought down Breel Embolo inside the box to concede a penalty in the 18th minute. Stindl stepped up to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The hosts responded well and finished off a counter-attack in the 27th minute when Alario levelled the scores following good work from Moussa Diaby.

Only three minutes later, Monchengladbach restored its one-goal lead after Stindl tapped home a misplaced clearance to wrap up his brace at the edge of the box.

The Foals should have added another goal to their lead but Ramy Bensabaini could only rattle the woodwork from very close range in the 34th minute.

Peter Bosz's men punished the visitors' wastefulness in front of goal when Alario headed home Florian Wirtz's cross to make it 2-2 four minutes before half-time.

Both sides started with less momentum in the second half, but another Monchengladbach chance went begging as Hradecky blocked a shot on target before Hannes Wolf missed the open goal from inside the box in the 67th minute.

Moments later, Leverkusen clinically took the lead as Bailey overcame Monchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer from tight angle.

The Werkself added a fourth as Monchengladbach failed to clear the ball following a corner, allowing Julian Baumgartlinger to slot home from seven meters in the 82nd minute.

It was Monchengladbach who marked the final goal and what a goal it was. Substitute Valentino Lazaro met Patrick Herrmann's cross and found the back of the net with a scorpion kick from inside the box in injury-time.

With the result, Leverkusen stays fourth in the table whereas Monchengladbach slip to seventh spot.

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg extended Hoffenheim's winless streak to five games after securing a 2-1 win away from home.