Elversberg made history stunningly on their Bundesliga debut, defeating 2023/24 champions Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 at the Waldstadion an der Kaiserlinde.
The hosts took control early, with Lukas Petkov scoring Elversberg’s first-ever Bundesliga goal in the eighth minute after Edmond Tapsoba was dispossessed inside his own box. Less than a minute later, Cole Campbell capitalised on another Tapsoba mistake to double the advantage with a superb finish.
Leverkusen struggled to respond and offered little in a disappointing first half, with their closest effort coming when Aleix García’s free-kick deflected off the crossbar.
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Elversberg extended their lead just 30 seconds after the restart when David Mokwa headed Petkov’s cross into the far corner.
Leverkusen finally found a way back in the 75th minute when Patrik Schick diverted Ibrahim Maza’s effort past the goalkeeper to make it 3-1.
The visitors then pulled another goal back in stoppage time, with Christian Kofane finishing the rebound after Victor Boniface’s shot struck the crossbar. However, Elversberg held on for a historic victory.
The defeat ended Leverkusen’s club-record 20-game unbeaten run against promoted sides. Elversberg, meanwhile, became the first Bundesliga debutants since RB Leipzig in 2016 to avoid defeat in their opening top-flight match, marking a memorable start to life in Germany’s elite division.
