Ten Hag's Nightmare Start in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen

On the evening of August 23rd (Vietnam time), Erik Ten Hag faced a frustrating Bundesliga debut when Bayer Leverkusen was defeated 1-2 at their home ground by Hoffenheim in the first round of the 2025/26 season.

A Forgettable Season Opener

Leverkusen started well when young center-back Jarell Quansah — a new signing from Liverpool — headed in the opening goal in the 6th minute. Quansah was also emotionally moved as he dedicated the goal to his late former teammate Diogo Jota. However, the advantage was quickly erased. In the 25th minute, Fisnik Asllani equalized for Hoffenheim and later assisted Tim Lemperle to score the winning goal in the 52nd minute.

After falling behind, the home team barely managed to apply significant pressure. Nathan Tella was a rare bright spot with a dangerous shot that went off target. Leverkusen’s lack of cohesion and sharpness caused them to miss the chance to earn points in their opening game.

Consequences of a Turbulent Summer

Ten Hag’s Leverkusen suffered heavy losses after parting ways with coach Xabi Alonso and key players like Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jeremie Frimpong, and Jonathan Tah. Despite bringing in new faces such as Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza, and Quansah, the former Bundesliga champions still need time to gel with the revamped squad.

Former Man Utd coach Erik also admitted the challenges after the defeat: “Clearly, I am disappointed. We didn’t manage to get the ball into the final third very often. Hoffenheim made better use of their few chances. The team has a lot of work ahead, but I am not surprised. The important thing is to stay calm and keep working.”

Challenges Ahead

Ten Hag’s Leverkusen began the season with a harsh setback, clearly showing the difficult rebuilding process after losing many stars. Without quickly finding a cohesive and effective formula, defending their status in the Bundesliga will be extremely tough.

This defeat also serves as a warning that although Ten Hag needs time, he must immediately prove his ability to turn things around, as expectations on him are high.

Leverkusen fans have grown accustomed to stability and success under Xabi Alonso, so patience for Ten Hag won’t last indefinitely. Every match from now on will test the Dutch manager’s adaptability and resilience.