Elversberg vs Bayer Leverkusen – News and Probable Lineups

The Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg are poised for a challenging season opener as they host Bayer Leverkusen at the Ursapharm-Arena this Saturday.

Optimism surrounds the Black and White as they aim for a solid start, while Die Werkself is determined to secure all three points against the newly promoted side.

Match overview

Elversberg has experienced a remarkable ascent through German football, achieving three promotions in just five seasons leading to their first-ever Bundesliga participation.

Head coach Vincent Wagner has guided the team through an impressive pre-season preparing for the top-flight challenge, with his side arriving unbeaten in five games, having secured four victories in that span.

In a standout moment, the Black and White convincingly defeated Ligue 1’s Strasbourg 5-2 on August 4, along with a 4-1 win against Lorient on August 15, showcasing their strength against teams from one of Europe’s elite leagues.

Building on this momentum, Elversberg triumphed over third-tier Duisburg 3-1 in the DFB-Pokal last weekend, displaying resilience by clinching the win with a late brace from substitute Francis Onyeka.

The home supporters at Ursapharm-Arena will eagerly await the kickoff, feeling cautiously optimistic after witnessing the hosts claim victory in seven of their last eight home matches.

On the other side, Carles Martinez Novell took over as Leverkusen’s head coach in June, seeking to earn maximum points in his first Bundesliga match at the helm.

Despite some inconsistency following Xabi Alonso’s departure in 2025, a glimpse of hope arises as the new manager achieved seven victories and one defeat in his first eight fixtures, instilling optimism among the fans for the forthcoming season.

Leverkusen finished sixth in the league during the 2025-26 season, securing a spot in the Europa League, though the objective this time is clear: gaining entry into the Champions League.

With this goal in mind, the players will draw motivation from rounding off their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over Premier League side Newcastle United, before dominating Wehen 4-0 in the DFB-Pokal in their last outing.

Additionally, Die Werkself has claimed four victories in five away matches under Novell, scoring 17 goals while conceding just four.

Team News

Elversberg will miss left winger Tom Zimmerschied this weekend as he recovers from a back injury, which is anticipated to keep him sidelined for several more weeks.

In his absence, the hosts may opt to start Cole Campbell on the left wing, as part of a three-man attacking setup with Francis Onyeka and Lukas Petkov supporting striker Luca Schnellbacher.

As for Leverkusen, attacking midfielders Martin Terrier and Eliesse Ben Seghir are both unavailable, with the latter nursing a thigh injury.

This could lead to Ibrahim Maza starting in the number 10 position, flanked by Nathan Tella and Afonso Moreira.

Additionally, 17-year-old defensive midfielder Kennet Eichhorn is undergoing treatment for a metabolic disorder, while Robert Andrich is dealing with a muscle injury, so expect to see Equi Fernandez and Aleix Garcia start in front of centre-backs Loic Bade and Edmond Tapsoba.

Eighteen-year-old right wing-back Montrell Culbreath is also out with a foot injury, although Lucas Vazquez and Miguel Gutierrez are expected to fill in as full-backs.

Elversberg probable starting XI:

Christopher; Gyamerah, Pinckert, Rohr, Gunther; Keidel, Poreba; Petkov, Onyeka, Campbell; Schnellbacher

Bayer Leverkusen probable starting XI:

Spots; Vazquez, Bade, Tapsoba, Gutierrez; Fernandez, Garcia; Tile, Maple, Mulberry; Schick

Though Elversberg may be viewed as underdogs due to their promoted status, their pre-season performances against Ligue 1 teams suggest they could pose a tougher challenge than anticipated.

However, Leverkusen boasts a solid pre-season under their new manager and will be eager to make a strong impression, making for what is expected to be a closely contested match regardless of the outcome.