The hosts wasted no time asserting themselves in front of a capacity crowd of 9,307 at their stadium, which remains under construction. Lukas Petkov and American forward Cole Campbell struck in rapid succession, netting within 60 seconds of each other to establish a 2-0 lead before the match had even reached the 10-minute mark. David Mokwa extended the advantage early in the second half, putting the minnows in a commanding position.
A Dream Start for the Bundesliga Newcomers
While Bayer Leverkusen managed to claw back two goals late in the contest through Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane, the damage had already been done. The result serves as a significant wake-up call for Leverkusen, who appeared disjointed and lethargic throughout much of the encounter, highlighting the early challenges facing new head coach Carles Martinez Novell.
Elversberg captain Lukas Pinckert expressed his pride following the final whistle, telling Sky that the result was a deserved reward for the squad's dedication. Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach, bolstered by the return of Christopher Nkunku, who provided an assist shortly after entering the fray. Meanwhile, Union Berlin salvaged a dramatic 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt thanks to a stoppage-time equalizer from Tim Skarke, and Cologne overcame a deficit twice to defeat Hoffenheim 3-2.
