European Football: Erik Ten Hag Off To Losing Start As Hoffenheim Stun Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen suffered a daze 2-1 location nonaccomplishment to Hoffenheim successful their Bundesliga play opener connected Saturday to manus caller coach Erik 10 Hag a losing convention debut.

Despite going 1-0 up, it was not nan capacity Dutchman Ten Hag, who replaced Xabi Alonso aft nan departures of prima subordinate Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Granit Xhaka, had wanted.

The 2024 German home double winners and past season’s runners-up lacked ideas and precision up beforehand while their backline severely missed Tah’s ascendant presence.

Hoffenheim deed nan station done Tim Lemperle aft 2 minutes but Leverkusen scored first erstwhile Jarell Quansah headed successful for a sixth-minute lead.

Jarell Quansah’s Diogo Jota tribute ceremony aft scoring for Bayer Leverkusen. Photograph: Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen/Getty Images

Fisnik Asllani, however, bagged a 25th-minute equaliser aft beating keeper Mark Flekken and things sewage worse for nan hosts 7 minutes aft nan restart erstwhile Lemperle drilled successful a debased changeable from 22 metres.

Leverkusen did not get a look-in for overmuch of nan 2nd half until Nathan Tella fired into nan broadside netting.

Champions Bayern Munich opened nan Bundesliga play connected Friday pinch a 6-0 demolition of RB Leipzig.

• This communicative will beryllium updated