Maurice Krattenmacher ↑65′ · Noah Darvich ↑65′ · Luca Schnellbacher ↑75′ · Luca Sirch ↑75′ · Florian Le Joncour ↑82′ · Nicholas Mickelson · Amara Conde · Noel Futkeu · Tim Boss · Tom Zimmerschied
Coach · Vincent Wagner
Match Preview
Elversberg vs Bayer Leverkusen Match Preview
AI-written editorial preview · updated 2026-08-27 13:58 UTC
Elversberg welcome Bayer Leverkusen for Bundesliga opener
Patrik Schick enters the new Bundesliga season carrying significant momentum, having netted five goals in his last four appearances for Bayer Leverkusen. As the visitors prepare to face Elversberg at the Ursapharm-Arena this Saturday, 29 August 2026, all eyes will be on whether the clinical forward can maintain that rhythm in the opening match of the campaign.
The challenge for the hosts
Elversberg enter this match following a productive summer, highlighted by a convincing 3-1 victory over MSV Duisburg in the DFB Pokal on 22 August. Their expected lineup, featuring David Mokwa leading the line and a midfield anchored by the likes of Cole Campbell and Noah Darvich, will need to be at their most disciplined to contain a high-calibre opponent. Having finished their previous competitive season with a 3-0 win against Preussen Muenster, the home side will look to carry that confidence into this challenging test.
Leverkusen's tactical setup
Bayer Leverkusen arrive at the Ursapharm-Arena fresh off a dominant 4-0 DFB Pokal win against Wehen Wiesbaden. The expected XI, marshalled by goalkeeper Mark Flekken and a defensive unit including Edmond Tapsoba and Loic Bade, reflects a side built for control and transition. With Aleix Garcia expected to dictate play from midfield, the visitors will look to exploit any gaps in the Elversberg structure while relying on Schick’s predatory instincts in the final third.
A history of cup drama
Meetings between these two clubs have historically been high-scoring affairs, particularly in the DFB Pokal. While Bayer Leverkusen secured a comfortable 3-0 victory when they last met in October 2024, Elversberg famously edged a 4-3 thriller against them back in July 2022. These past encounters serve as a reminder that despite the gap in league status, matches between these two sides rarely follow a predictable script.
Late-game danger
One tactical trend to watch for is Leverkusen's ability to finish matches strongly. In their recent run of ten matches, they have demonstrated a knack for finding the net in the final fifteen minutes, with six goals coming after the 75th minute. For Elversberg, maintaining concentration until the final whistle will be paramount if they are to secure a result against one of the league's most persistent attacking threats.
Bayer Leverkusen
4-2-3-1
● Confirmed
14
⚽
Schick
9
↓85′
Moreira
10
↓65′
Tillman
30
Maza
24
Garcia
6
↓55′
Fernandez
3
Gutierrez
12
Tapsoba
5
↓55′
Bade
21
↓55′
Vazquez
1
Flekken
Bench (15)
Facundo Medina ↑55′ · Jarell Quansah ↑55′ · Christian Kofane ↑55′⚽ · Jonas Hofmann ↑65′ · Victor Okoh Boniface ↑85′ · Robert Andrich · Arthur · Janis Blaswich · Jeanuel Belocian · Arthur · Robert Andrich · Martin Terrier · Kennet Eichhorn · Montrell Culbreath · Eliesse Ben Seghir
Coach · Carles Martinez
Confirmed by FIFA officials.
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