Bundesliga newcomers SV Elversberg delivered a stunning upset on their top-flight debut, defeating 2024 champions Bayer Leverkusen 3-2. The team, representing the town of Spiesen-Elversberg with a population of just over 13,000, took a commanding 3-0 lead in their inaugural Saturday afternoon fixture.
Elversberg scored two goals within 60 seconds in the opening 10 minutes, followed by a third 25 seconds after half-time. Lukas Petkov opened the scoring, Cole Campbell quickly added a second, and David Mokwa netted the third goal.
Bayer Leverkusen's new coach Carles Martínez saw Patrick Schick and Christian Kofané score to reduce the deficit, but it was not enough to salvage the game. This victory marks the first top-flight win for a team from Saarland since FC Saarbrücken beat Leverkusen in 1993.