Hoffenheim came from behind to beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in Leverkusen, handing Erik ten Hag a disappointing Bundesliga debut as Leverkusen coach. Tim Lemperle scored the visitors' winner early in the second half after Fisnik Asllani had equalized in the 25th. Jarell Quansah had given Leverkusen an early lead with a header. Ten Hag started with three summer signings: Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza, and Jarell Quansah. The departures of Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jeremie Frimpong, and Jonathan Tah weakened Leverkusen and limited their response. Several other managers also made Bundesliga debuts that weekend with mixed results.
Hoffenheim spoiled Erik ten Hag's Bundesliga debut as Bayer Leverkusen coach by coming from behind to defeat his team 2-1 in Leverkusen on Saturday. Tim Lemperle scored the visitors' winner early in the second half to get a new-look Leverkusen after a summer of change off to a disappointing start. Ten Hag, who took over from the Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso, had three new signings in his starting lineup including goalkeeper Mark Flekken, young forward Ibrahim Maza, and defender Jarell Quansah.
The latter headed Leverkusen into an early lead, but Fisnik Asllani leveled in the 25th and turned provider for Lemperle in the 52nd. Erik ten Hag reacts during his first Bundesliga game in charge of Bayer Leverkusen. Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images The summer departures of key Leverkusen players like Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jeremie Frimpong and former captain Jonathan Tah was evident as the home team failed to mount a response.
Ten Hag, who was fired by Manchester United last season, was just one of four coaches making their Bundesliga debuts with new teams -- six altogether this weekend. Former Germany assistant Sandro Wagner got off to a dream start with his Augsburg team winning 3-1 in Freiburg, while Paul Simonis also had an opening win with Wolfsburg beating Heidenheim 3-1 away. Horst Steffen's Werder Bremen lost 4-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt, whose goalkeeper, Michael Zetterer, made his debut against his former teammates three days after switching between the sides.
Collection
[
|
...
]