Borussia Monchengladbach struck late through Haris Tabakovic to claim a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena, denying Kasper Hjulmand back-to-back Bundesliga victories.
Malick Tillman’s second-half strike had looked enough to hand Leverkusen the win, but Tabakovic’s thumping header deep into the game ensured the visitors left with a deserved share of the points.
The result means Hjulmand, who replaced Erik ten Hag earlier this month, remains unbeaten in his first three games across all competitions. Yet the dropped points will sting, given Leverkusen’s habit under former manager Xabi Alonso of producing late goals to kill off matches. This time, the tables were turned.
Leverkusen threatened early when Patrik Schick rose to meet a free-kick with a powerful header, only to see Moritz Nicolas in the Gladbach goal make a sharp stop. Gladbach responded with purpose, Jens Castrope blasting into the roof of the net midway through the half before being denied by an offside flag. Joe Scally then went close just before the break, forcing Mark Flekken into action.
The breakthrough came in the 70th minute, Tillman seizing on Schick’s scuffed effort to bend his shot home via a deflection. Leverkusen looked to press their advantage, with Ibrahim Maza nearly doubling the lead from a tight angle, but Nicolas again stood firm.
That save set the stage for Gladbach’s late leveller. Charles Herrmann’s corner was met emphatically by Tabakovic, whose header left Flekken rooted and silenced the BayArena.
Leverkusen have now dropped seven points from winning positions in the Bundesliga this season, more than any other side. Gladbach, meanwhile, ended a barren run of five games without a goal, though they remain winless in their last 12 league meetings with Leverkusen.
