Elversberg stun Bayer Leverkusen in dream Bundesliga debut

Elversberg opened their first Bundesliga campaign with one of the great upsets in recent German football history, beating reigning 2024 champions Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 on Saturday. The club from a town of just 13,000 inhabitants produced a fearless display to claim three points in front of their own supporters.

• Elversberg beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 in their first Bundesliga match.
• Lukas Petkov and Cole Campbell scored within 60 seconds to make it 2-0 before the 10th minute.
• David Mokwa added a third soon after half-time with 9,307 fans in the stands.
• Leverkusen, unbeaten champions in 2024, scored late through Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane.
• The town of Elversberg is the smallest settlement ever to host a Bundesliga club.

Relentless start gives Elversberg early command

The home side could not have asked for a better opening. Lukas Petkov and Cole Campbell struck within sixty seconds of each other to put Elversberg 2-0 up before the clock reached ten minutes. The double blow stunned a Leverkusen side that looked short of ideas and energy for much of the contest.

David Mokwa extended the lead early in the second half, triggering wild celebrations among the 9,307 supporters packed into the ground. The atmosphere underlined the scale of the occasion: a newly promoted team outplaying the previous season's unbeaten champions.

Leverkusen's late rally comes up short

Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane pulled goals back in the closing stages, but the comeback never materialised. Carles Martínez Novell's team paid for a slow and disorganised start, giving the Spanish coach plenty to address after his summer arrival from Toulouse.

Martínez Novell replaced Kasper Hjulmand in the dugout and has now seen first-hand the work required to get Leverkusen back to the level that saw them lift the 2024 title without losing a single league match.

A small town on the Bundesliga map

Elversberg now stands as the smallest settlement ever represented in Germany's top flight. The Ursapharm-Arena is operating at a reduced capacity while upgrade works are carried out to meet the stadium criteria demanded by the Bundesliga.

It's an indescribable day. We worked hard to earn the right to play in this league. The victory is deserved. I am incredibly proud of the team.

Captain Lukas Pinckert summed up the emotion in the home dressing room after a famous opening-day triumph. The win rewards years of steady progress from a club competing in the top division for the very first time.

Leipzig cruise and Union Berlin fight back in Bundesliga action

RB Leipzig cruised to a 3-0 home win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Ridle Baku opened the scoring in the first half and Antonio Nusa produced a stunning finish after the break. Christopher Nkunku, back at the club from Chelsea, came on midway through the second half and set up former Gladbach forward Rocco Reitz just two minutes later.

Union Berlin recovered from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Eintracht Frankfurt. Younes Ebnoutalib struck a hat-trick for the visitors, but Tim Skarke levelled for Union in the third minute of stoppage time.

Cologne substitute Thijs Dallinga scored twice and Said El Mala added a dazzling solo goal as the hosts came from behind twice to beat Hoffenheim 3-2. Mainz were held to a goalless draw at home by promoted Paderborn.

Juventus and Atlético Madrid remain perfect in league starts

Juventus made it back-to-back wins at the start of the Serie A season with a 2-0 victory over Parma. Substitutes Nicolás González and Teun Koopmeiners scored after the break to secure the points. New signings Randal Kolo Muani and Jhon Lucumi started, while 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic made his debut off the bench.

Fiorentina's 100th anniversary celebrations were spoiled by a 3-0 home defeat to promoted Frosinone. Club legends including Gabriel Batistuta and Claudio Ranieri watched from the stands as Antonio Raimondo netted twice and Gabriele Bracaglia added another, a week after a 4-0 loss at Roma.

In Ligue 1, Gessime Yassine struck twice as Strasbourg came from behind to beat Lens 2-1 at home. Florian Thauvin converted a 38th-minute penalty for the visitors, but Yassine equalised just after the break and volleyed in a late winner from Sebastian Nanasi's cross.

Atlético Madrid moved top of the early LaLiga table with a convincing 3-1 win at Sevilla. Lee Kang-in set up Álex Baena for the opener in the fourth minute, Ademola Lookman added a second and Baena completed his brace after the half-hour. Miguel Sierra pulled one back for Sevilla after the interval, but a comeback never looked likely.

Betis miss chance to go top after Levante collapse

Real Betis missed the chance to extend their perfect start and briefly go top of LaLiga as they slumped to a 5-2 defeat at Levante. Dela and Enzo Bardeli put the hosts ahead, with Marc Bartra and Rodrigo Riquelme replying for Betis before the break. Roger Brugué scored twice in the second half and Jon Ander Olasagasti added a late header to seal the win.