What the papers say: 'Bayer 04 lacked clinical finish'

Kölner Stadt Anzeiger: "Even without the injured Bender twins, Baumgartlinger and the as yet not fully fit Aranguiz, Bayer 04 had the better start of the two teams. Discipline, hard work and talent were in order as is very often the case with Bayer 04. But that did not turn into goals. … From a Bayer 04 perspective, the key moment of the game came on 31 minutes when Kevin Volland failed to put the ball in the back of the net from close range. Instead he moved it to his right foot and then hit the leg of a Gladbach defender under time pressure. A goal would have topped a wonderful counter-attack involving Henrichs and Brandt that ended up with a pinpoint cross to their team-mate. That would have made it 1-0 and possibly a completely different game."

Bild am Sonntag: "Borussia win west derby! Leverkusen fail! The Werkself were the cause their own downfall. Leverkusen should have been well ahead at the break but messed up the chance of taking the lead and were punished."

WAZ: "Germany coach Joachim Löw watched a lively game from the stands where the hosts deservedly picked up three points with an improved performance in the second half. Bayer 04 lacked a clinical finish in front of goal and therefore missed out on getting a result"

Rheinische Post: "Borussia  found it difficult to put the advantages of the new 4-3-3 system into effect on the pitch. Florian Neuhaus and Hofmann, in association with the three strikers – Raffael and Thorgan Hazard played alongside Johnson – rarely put the Leverkusen defence under pressure. Bayer were on top in the opening stages but Gladbach gradually settled into the game and dominated possession for longer periods."

Express: "The visitors dominated the game initially. And created clear-cut chances: Alario's header missed the target; a fluke for Borussia. Bailey's header only hit the bar. And Borussia? Raffael's shot was blocked and Hofman missed a chance shortly after that. Bayer regained the upper hand and had the next big chance but Volland's shot was blocked on the line by the youngster Beyer. Leverkusen should already have been ahead but then had to worry because Henrichs suffered a blackout before the break. A clear handball by the defender in his own box, penalty. Borussia's Hazard grabbed the ball but his weak shot halfway up the target provided easy pickings for the keeper Özcan. The Foals were a different team after the break whereas Bayer looked indecisive."

Kicker: "The Werkself were clearly the better team at the start but Gladbach gradually improved - and struck twice following the restart after Hazard missed a penalty just before half-time."

FAZ: "In a partially high quality encounter, Leverkusen were the better side in the first half  but that was more than just compensated for by the Gladbach performance after the break."