Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg began their first top-flight campaign in stunning fashion, defeating Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 at home on Saturday. The team from the Saarland town of 13,000 people, the smallest settlement ever to host a Bundesliga side, produced a memorable performance against the 2023-24 champions, who went unbeaten through that title-winning season.
Early goals set the tone
Bulgarian winger Lukas Petkov and American winger Cole Campbell scored within 60 seconds of each other to put Elversberg 2-0 up before the 10-minute mark. David Mokwa added another early in the second half in front of 9,307 delirious fans at the Ursapharm-Arena, which has a reduced capacity while upgrades are made to meet German top-flight stadium criteria.
Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane pulled late goals back for Leverkusen, but it was not enough to prevent a famous victory for the minnows. The result embarrassed a team that won the 2023-24 Bundesliga without losing a game, and left Leverkusen looking disorganised and lacking energy until late on, showing new coach Carles Martínez Novell that he has work to do. The Spaniard took over from Kasper Hjulmand in the summer after leaving his previous role at Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
Captain proud of team effort
“It’s an indescribable day,” Elversberg captain Lukas Pinckert told Sky. “We worked hard to earn the right to play in this league. The victory is deserved. I am incredibly proud of the team.”
In other Bundesliga action, RB Leipzig cruised to a 3-0 home win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, with the former Chelsea and France forward Christopher Nkunku setting up a goal on his return to the club. Ridle Baku’s first-half goal came against the run of play for Leipzig, but the hosts took control when Antonio Nusa produced a stunning finish early in the second half. Nkunku came on midway through the second half and set up a goal for the former Gladbach forward Rocco Reitz just two minutes later.
Union Berlin fight back, Cologne edge Hoffenheim
In the capital, Union Berlin came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Eintracht Frankfurt, cancelling out Younes Ebnoutalib’s hat-trick for the visitors. Union’s Tim Skarke scored in the third minute of stoppage time to level things up for the hosts.
The Cologne substitute Thijs Dallinga bagged a double and young winger Said El Mala scored a dazzling solo effort as the hosts came from behind twice to beat Hoffenheim 3-2. Elsewhere, Mainz played out a scoreless draw at home to promoted Paderborn.
Strasbourg and Levante victories
In Ligue 1, winger Gessime Yassine struck twice as Strasbourg came from behind to beat Lens 2-1 at home on Saturday, ending the visitors’ strong start to the season. Lens took the lead when Jeyland Mitchell felled Abdallah Sima in the box, and captain Thauvin stepped up to confidently rattle home the spot-kick in the 38th minute. Strasbourg came out firing in the second half, equalising through a deflected Yassine strike after three minutes. The hosts had a goal ruled out for offside in the 56th minute, but grabbed a deserved late winner when Sebastian Nanasi crossed for Yassine to volley home.
Real Betis missed the chance to extend their perfect start, and briefly go top of La Liga, as they slumped to a 5-2 defeat at Levante. Dela broke the deadlock for the hosts with a glancing header, but centre-half Marc Bartra levelled quickly with a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area. Levante reclaimed the lead in first-half stoppage time, Enzo Bardeli lobbing Betis keeper Álvaro Valles from long distance – only for Rodrigo Riquelme to equalise again from a corner before the break. Roger Brugue struck twice in the second half to put Levante in charge, however, and a late Jon Ander Olasagasti header sealed the win.
