Elversberg Stun Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 in Bundesliga Debut

Elversberg marked their first match in Germany's top flight with a 3-2 home victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, delivering a major upset against the 2024 Bundesliga champions. Reuters reported that the promoted club established an early two-goal advantage and held on after Leverkusen mounted a late comeback. Leverkusen had won their 2024 title without losing a league match, adding further weight to Elversberg's opening-day result.

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Lukas Petkov opened the scoring before Cole Campbell struck within the next 60 seconds, putting Elversberg 2-0 ahead before the match had reached the 10-minute mark. The rapid start gave the newcomers control of a landmark fixture in front of 9,307 spectators at the Ursapharm-Arena.

David Mokwa added Elversberg's third goal early in the second half. Leverkusen eventually replied through Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane, but those late goals did not erase the deficit. Elversberg closed out the 3-2 result to begin their inaugural Bundesliga season with three points.

The occasion carried unusual scale for the German top division. Reuters reported that Elversberg, with a population of about 13,000, is the smallest settlement to host a Bundesliga team. The club's stadium is operating at reduced capacity while work is completed to satisfy top-flight requirements. Those limitations did not prevent the home crowd from witnessing the club's historic win at the first opportunity.

Captain Lukas Pinckert told Sky that the day was indescribable and said the team had worked hard to earn its place in the league. He described the victory as deserved and expressed pride in his teammates after they survived Leverkusen's late pressure.

For Leverkusen, the defeat produced an immediate setback under new coach Carles Martinez Novell. Reuters reported that the Spaniard arrived from Toulouse during the summer to replace Kasper Hjulmand. His side struggled for organization and energy until the closing stages, a sharp contrast with Elversberg's aggressive opening and decisive third goal. The result gave the promoted club a memorable first entry in its Bundesliga record while leaving Leverkusen without a point from the season opener.