Bayern Munich and Stuttgart opened the Bundesliga season last night with a 5-1 win for Vincent Kompany’s side, but today was the start of the real Bundesliga with 10 teams kicking off their seasons.
In action this afternoon were debutants Elversberg vs Bayer Leverkusen, Köln hosted Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig played Borussia Mönchengladbach, Union Berlin were against Eintracht Frankfurt, and Mainz were against newly promoted Paderborn.
Here are the three things we learnt:
Elversberg pass their ‘Welcome to the Bundesliga’ test:There aren’t many harder games than hosting Bayer Leverkusen in your maiden top-flight campaign opener, but Elversberg have shocked everyone as they held off a resurgent Werkself to win their first-ever game 3-2.
Not only was the result itself impressive, but the manner in which the Saarland side did it too. Within 10 minutes, Elversberg were 2-0 up thanks to goals from Lukas Petkov and Cole Campbell (former Borussia Dortmund winger). Leverkusen were the dominant side throughout the game, but were not able to produce anything to show for it. Just after the break, Elversberg would then make it 3-0 through David Mokwa.
Leverkusen were able to get two back with goals from Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane, but it was too little too late.
Elversberg will still be up against it when it comes to fighting for survival, but the fact they were able to get such a statement win so early in the season will give them much-needed confidence that they will be able to carry forward.
For Carlos Martinez’s side, this was genuinely just a poor performance, especially in front of goal. Their next game will be their home opener against Union Berlin. With the transfer deadline on Tuesday, they are still expected to complete the return of Moussa Diaby as well as potentially finalise a deal for Guéla Doué (the brother of PSG winger Desire); both should provide much-needed strength to Leverkusen’s right-hand side.
Rocco Reitz provides an unwelcome reunion:Rocco Reitz’s decision to move to RB Leipzig this summer did not make him a popular figure at Borussia Park. So what better way for him to make his Bundesliga debut for Leipzig than against his former side?
In the first half, Borussia Mönchengladbach were the better side but undeservedly went down 1-0 thanks to a Ridle Baku goal in the 26th minute. However, it was in the second half that the wheels came off and Antonio Nusa doubled Leipzig’s lead just after the break. Then, in the 66th minute, Leipzig made it 3-0 thanks to who else but Reitz.
This storyline aside, with the doubts surrounding head coach Martin Demichelis and his credentials as Leipzig head coach, this was a strong way to kick off their Bundesliga campaign, but there will be much more difficult games on the horizon. While this game also saw the return of Christopher Nkunku, who in fact provided the assist for the final Leipzig goal.
Goals galore on Bundesliga opening day:Bayern kick-started the Bundesliga goal fest with their 5-1 drubbing of Stuttgart, then this afternoon provided us with 19 goals in five matches. On top of Elversberg’s 3-2 win and Leipzig’s 3-0 triumph, there were five goals between Köln and Hoffenheim and six in Union’s game against Eintracht Frankfurt. In contrast, Paderborn vs Mainz ended 0-0.
After their traditional visit to Dom in Köln before the season opener, Effzeh found themselves 2-1 down to Hoffenheim. Until summer signing Thijs Dallinga was subbed on. The Dutch striker would make it 2-2 within seven minutes of his introduction, then 10 minutes later, Dallinga would score his second of the game to make it 3-2.
While in Berlin, Union scored in the 92nd minute to rescue a point against Frankfurt. Younes Ebnoutalib showed that he is back to his best as he opened his campaign with a hat-trick. The striker’s season was cut short by injury at the beginning of the year; then he was unable to get back into the starting 11 under former Frankfurt head coach Albert Riera.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
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