Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach have played out a 1-1 draw in this afternoon's Bundesliga clash at the BayArena - a result that keeps both teams in the hunt for a European berth.
Following a nervy start disrupted by fouls, Gonzalo Castro registered the game's first chance on goal by firing a shot from outside the box in the fourth minute, but Yann Sommer pulled off a smart low save.
Three minutes later, a swift counter-attack from the visitors led to Patrick Herrmann marauding forward and having a shot, but the ball flew just wide of the left post.
The hosts took the lead not long after the quarter-hour mark when Hakan Calhanoglu latched onto Stefan Kiessling's headed flick-on to blast an effort into the top corner from outside the box.
However, Monchengladbach equalised five minutes before the break when Roel Brouwers drove home into the bottom corner following good work from Thorgan Hazard.
Both sides upped the tempo in the second half and had numerous chances on goal, but ultimately neither could score again and so had to settle for a point each following what proved to be a lively game.
The result sees Leverkusen climb to third in the Bundesliga table, with Monchengladbach just behind on goal difference in fourth.
Giuseppe Labellarte
