Bundesliga
Trainer debut succeeded: Gladbach scores in Leverkusen
Updated on September 21, 2025 – 7:30 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Good performance, good result: Eugen Polanski scores in his first game as Gladbach coach. The reason for this is a last minute goal.
Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach separated on the fourth Bundesliga matchday with a 1-1 draw. So Gladbach’s new coach Eugen Polanski celebrated a good Bundesliga. Overall, the “foals” showed an appealing performance. Malik Tillman (40th) met for Bayer, and Haris Tabakovic (90.+2) achieved the late balance for Gladbach.
Borussia Mönchengladbach fought a respect at Bayer Leverkusen after turbulent days at the debut of his interim coach Eugen Polanski. In the first game after the separation from Gerardo Seoane, the foals came to a 1-1 (0: 0) in a heated duel at the runner -up. Haris Tabakovic (90.+2) saved the Gladbacher late with the first goal of the season after Malik Tillman (70th) achieved the Leverkusen lead.
The previous U23 coach Polanski, who will still sit on the bench at least on the coming matchday against Eintracht Frankfurt, collected at least a few arguments for permanent commitment. After the disappointing start to the season with just one point from three games and a goal difference of 0: 5, Gladbach presented itself more stable, but across the season the team has been waiting for a win for eleven games. Bayer missed the second success under his new coach Kasper Hjulmand.
Passion had identified Polanski as the basis. “The fans want to see that a team is tearing themselves down and the spark jumps,” he said. A week after the disastrous appearance against Bremen (0: 4), Gladbach initially waited deeply in his own half-and survived the Bayer urge phase at the beginning because goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas saved Patrik Schick heavily on the line (9th).
Leverkusen invaded defensively disciplined guests, as was three days ago in the Champions League at FC Copenhagen (2: 2). Without the blocked captain Robert Andrich, Bayer knew nothing to do with his own ball possession. The Gladbacher, on the other hand, worked more into the game by minute to minute. Polanski, who once stood as a player in 44 Bundesliga games for VfL on the square, is active.
His cheers about the supposedly first season goal of the Borussia quickly subsided, after a VAR intervention it was clear: Jens Castrop (23rd) had been offside. In any case, the new emotionality that Gladbach’s boss hoped for in the decision for Polanski brought the professionals to the field – even after the break.
The Borussians set needles and came to chances: However, Kevin Stöger (57th) and Shuto Machino (60th) narrowly missed. Leverkusen tried significantly more on the offensive and was rewarded: after a cross from Ernest Poku, Schick Schick hit an air hole, the ball came to Tillman, who took the lead. But Gladbach still did the late balance.