USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman netted his second Bundesliga goal of the season, helping Bayer Leverkusen secure a 1-1 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach. Meanwhile, Gio Reyna struggled for impact after coming on as a substitute.
Malik Tillman Scores Second Goal of the Season as Bayer Leverkusen Draw 1-1 with Borussia Monchengladbach
USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman continued his strong start to the 2025-26 season with Bayer Leverkusen, scoring his second Bundesliga goal of the campaign in a 1-1 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday. Tillman’s second-half strike seemed to be enough for Leverkusen to claim all three points, but a late equalizer left both sides settling for a point in a match that saw contrasting fortunes for the two American internationals involved.
Tillman Breaks the Deadlock for Leverkusen
For much of the game, it appeared as though the two sides would walk away with a goalless draw, but Malik Tillman had other ideas. After 70 minutes, Leverkusen’s striker Patrick Schick misfired in the box, and the ball fortuitously fell to Tillman. The midfielder, ever alert, struck a composed finish that deflected off a defender’s thigh, sending the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead.
The goal, though somewhat fortunate, was a testament to Tillman’s presence in the right place at the right time. His clinical finish was his second goal in the Bundesliga since joining Leverkusen, and it gave his side the advantage heading into the final stages of the match.
Leverkusen Let Lead Slip in Injury Time
Despite their dominance after taking the lead, Leverkusen failed to hold onto their advantage. In the dying seconds of injury time, veteran striker Haris Tabakovic capitalized on a set-piece, rising unchallenged to head home a corner and level the score for Borussia Monchengladbach. It was a disappointing moment for Leverkusen, who had defended resolutely up until that point. The failure to track Tabakovic cost them dearly, and both teams were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Gio Reyna’s Limited Impact
While Tillman was making headlines for his goal, Gio Reyna had a more frustrating afternoon. After starting in recent weeks under former manager Gerardo Seoane, Reyna’s opportunities were limited by interim boss Eugen Polanski. The American international, who has been a bright spot for Monchengladbach, was left on the bench for the majority of the match and only came on for a brief 10-minute cameo in the second half.
Reyna, known for his creativity and technical ability, couldn’t get into the game during his brief appearance, and his lack of impact was a significant factor in Monchengladbach’s inability to capitalize on Tillman’s misfortune.
The Battle of New Managers
The 1-1 draw marked a clash between two clubs that recently made managerial changes. Leverkusen parted ways with former Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag just two weeks ago, while Monchengladbach made a similar decision by sacking Gerardo Seoane after only three games. Both teams are in transition, with new management yet to fully make their mark on the squads.
For Leverkusen, the fixture list seems to offer a slight reprieve, with matches against St. Pauli, Union Berlin, and Mainz coming up. In contrast, Monchengladbach faces a tougher test next week, with a match against surprise Champions League contenders Eintracht Frankfurt.
Looking Ahead
Leverkusen will likely be content with the point after a hard-fought battle, but they will be disappointed not to secure all three. Tillman will certainly take confidence from his goal, while Reyna will hope for more minutes under Polanski’s management as Monchengladbach looks to find its feet after their managerial shake-up.
