Leverkusen got the basics wrong, laments Martinez

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Carles Martinez lamented his team getting the basics badly wrong in their 3-2 loss to Elversberg.

Leverkusen’s Bundesliga campaign began in dismal fashion, as they lost to newly promoted opponents.

Martinez’s team hit the woodwork twice and created chances worth 1.88 expected goals to Elversberg’s 1.27 xG.

However, they were 3-0 down inside 46 minutes at URSAPHARM-Arena an der Kaiserlinde, with Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane scoring late on to restore some pride.

And Martinez is expecting a response next time out against Union Berlin.

“Our play wasn’t good enough, particularly when it came to the basics,” he said.

“Sometimes in football it’s all about the basics, about precision or one-on-one duels. Our performance wasn’t good enough.

“We – and I, too – must learn from this match so we can do much, much better next week and then win.”

Stick together and come back stronger pic.twitter.com/dIsESuUN9t

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) August 30, 2026

Goalkeeper Mark Flekken echoed his coach’s thoughts, though he saw positives to build on. 

“We managed to pull one back in the end and make it a nail-biter again,” he said.

“A few things need to change – we need to be physically and mentally prepared, start with energy, play clean passing football and cut out the mistakes. And, of course, we need to take our chances up front.”

Having lost their final game of last term, Leverkusen have lost consecutive Bundesliga away matches for the first time since autumn 2022, when they lost three in a row.

For the first time since 2015, meanwhile, a Bundesliga debutant has won their opening match of the season; the last side to do so was Ingolstadt, who won 1-0 away at Mainz.

Elversberg have won seven of their last eight home league matches, with the only exception being a 1-2 defeat to Schalke in April.

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