Bayer Leverkusen lost 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga season opener, giving Erik ten Hag a losing league debut. Leverkusen went ahead early through a Jarell Quansah header but lacked ideas and precision in attack. Departures of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Granit Xhaka weakened the squad, and the backline missed Tah's dominant presence. Hoffenheim hit the post early and levelled through Fisnik Asllani before Tim Lemperle scored the winner shortly after the restart. Leverkusen offered little in the second half, with Nathan Tella's effort hitting the side netting.
Bayer Leverkusen suffered a shock 2-1 home loss to Hoffenheim in their Bundesliga season opener on Saturday to hand new coach Erik ten Hag a losing league debut. Despite going 1-0 up, it was not the performance Dutchman Ten Hag, who replaced Xabi Alonso after the departures of star player Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Granit Xhaka, had wanted. The 2024 German domestic double winners and last season's runners-up lacked ideas and precision up front while their backline badly missed Tah's dominant presence.
Hoffenheim hit the post through Tim Lemperle after two minutes but Leverkusen scored first when Jarell Quansah headed in for a sixth-minute lead. Jarell Quansah's Diogo Jota tribute celebration after scoring for Bayer Leverkusen. Photograph: Jorg Schuler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen/Getty Images Fisnik Asllani, however, bagged a 25th-minute equaliser after beating keeper Mark Flekken and things got worse for the hosts seven minutes after the restart when Lemperle drilled in a low shot from 22 metres.
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