Bayer Leverkusen beat Borussia Monchengladbach in thriller

Bayer Leverkusen scored two goals in each half to beat a stubborn Borussia Monchengladbach 4-2 in the Bundesliga.

There was an even start to the game and the first chance of note went to the visitors as a Juan Arango free kick from just outside the box went just wide.

After that Leverkusen passed their way into the game and won a penalty as Arango handballed in the box. Stefan Kiessling stepped up to convert the penalty and put his side ahead.

Bayer continued to press as Sebastian Boenisch drove into the box and shot from an angle, but there was not enough on it to beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who made a good save.

On 28 minutes Sidney Sam was found by Kiessling and he drilled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box to send his side into a 2-0 half-time lead.

However, Gladbach had not read the script and within 15 minutes of the restart they were level.

First Martin Stranzl scored from inside the box before Arango fired low three minutes later for 2-2.

The sucker punch came on 60 minutes for the visitors as Bayer responded to the equaliser with a quick third; Sam shot low from the edge of the area.

Then in the 72nd minute the points were safe. Gladbach pressed for another leveller but were undone on the break, with Gonzalo Castro finishing the move from outside the box.