Elversberg stun Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 in Bundesliga debut
Elversberg stunned Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 at the Ursapharm-Arena on Saturday in their Bundesliga debut, the win coming before 9,307 fans.
The 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, and David Mokwa added another early in the second half. Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane pulled late goals back for Leverkusen but could not prevent the minnows from securing victory. The Saarland town of Elversberg has a population of just 13,000, making it the smallest settlement to have ever hosted a Bundesliga side, and the club’s ground has a reduced capacity while upgrades are made to meet top-flight criteria. “It’s an indescribable day,” the 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.”
Leverkusen, who won the 2023-24 Bundesliga without losing a game, looked disorganised and lacked energy until late, prompting questions for new coach Carles Martínez Novell; the Spaniard took over from Kasper Hjulmand in the summer after leaving his previous role at Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
RB Leipzig cruised to a 3-0 home win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, Ridle Baku scoring in the first half against the run of play before Antonio Nusa produced a stunning finish early in the second half. Christopher Nkunku, the former Chelsea and France forward, returned to the club and came on midway through the second half, setting up a goal for Rocco Reitz two minutes later.
In the capital, Union Berlin came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Eintracht Frankfurt, the visitors’ Younes Ebnoutalib notching a hat-trick and Union’s Tim Skarke scoring in the third minute of stoppage time to level the match. Cologne’s hosts recovered twice to beat Hoffenheim 3-2 as substitute Thijs Dallinga grabbed a double and young winger Said El Mala produced a solo goal. Mainz played out a scoreless draw at home to promoted Paderborn.
In Ligue 1, Strasbourg came from behind to beat Lens 2-1 as Gessime Yassine struck twice, the win ending the visitors’ strong start to the season. Lens had taken the lead after Jeyland Mitchell felled Abdallah Sima in the box and captain Thauvin converted the 38th-minute spot-kick; Strasbourg equalised three minutes into the second half through a deflected Yassine effort, had a goal ruled out for offside in the 56th minute, and secured the 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 opening the scoring with a glancing header before Marc Bartra levelled with a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area. Levante reclaimed the lead in first-half stoppage time when Enzo Bardeli lobbed Betis keeper Álvaro Valles from long distance, Rodrigo Riquelme equalised from a corner before the break, Roger Brugue struck twice in the second half and a late Jon Ander Olasagasti header sealed the win.