The 20-year-old provided the finishing touch to a fluid counter-attack to give the visitors a seventh-minute lead, slotting underneath Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer first time after being played through by Karim Bellarabi.

Marcus Thuram equalised with an emphatic strike seven minutes after half-time but parity would not last for long as Havertz scored from the penalty spot just before the hour after Nico Elvedi fouled Bellarabi in the area.

Sven Bender made sure of the win for Leverkusen nine minutes from time when he headed home from Kerem Demirbay's free-kick.

Following a fifth successive victory in all competitions, Leverkusen stayed within four points of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, who overcame Wolfsburg 2-0 thanks to goals from Raphael Guerreiro and Achraf Hakimi.

Werder Bremen boosted their survival hopes with a first win in eight matches, with Leonardo Bittencourt's 19th-minute goal helping them claim a 1-0 win at Freiburg.

Bittencourt fired beyond Freiburg goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow after being put through by Davy Klaassen.

Manuel Gulde looked to have levelled in the closing stages, shortly after Philipp Bargfrede had been sent off for two bookable offences, but the effort was chalked off for offside.

Second-bottom Bremen therefore moved to within two points of safety.

Paderborn remain rooted to the foot of the table after a 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim in a game where both goals were scored in the first nine minutes.

Robert Skov put Hoffenheim ahead in the fourth minute but Dennis Srbeny levelled soon after.