Why new boys Elversberg can upset Bayern Munich
Elversberg followed up a stunning Bundesliga debut win over Bayer Leverkusen by coming from 3-1 down to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-3 on Matchday 2. With record champions Bayern Munich next up, the fearless newcomers have every reason to believe they can pull off another major upset.
Only three clubs have ever won their first three matches in Bundesliga history. Cologne and Schalke both did so during the league’s inaugural 1963/64 season, while Hansa Rostock repeated the feat when they entered the Bundesliga following German reunification in 1991/92.
Elversberg need just one more win to join that illustrious club. Unfortunately for Vincent Wagner's side, Bayern will be doing all they can on Matchday 3 to prevent that from happening – but the new boys have a plan.
Elversberg have beaten Bundesliga heavyweights
The Saarland club could hardly have been handed a tougher introduction to Bundesliga life, but they have responded by taking six points from six. First came a 3-2 victory against Leverkusen before the Schwarz und Weiß showed another side to their game in Mönchengladbach.
Finding themselves 3-1 down could easily have brought them crashing back down to earth - especially after Wagner was sent to the stands at the break. Instead, Elversberg scored three times to turn the game around and leave Borussia-Park with a 4-3 win.
Those results mean they are only the ninth team in Bundesliga history to win their first two matches in the division. Hoffenheim (in 2008) are the only other club to have managed the feat in the past 35 years.
Elversberg taking their chances
Arguably the most eye-catching element of Elversberg's electrifying start is the way they have gone after teams. Seven goals in their opening two games, against stern opposition, makes them the joint-highest scorers after two matchdays alongside surprise leaders Augsburg. That tally has also equalled a Bundesliga record. The only other team to score seven times across their first two top-flight matches were Duisburg in the inaugural 1963/64 campaign.
Elversberg haven't needed an abundance of chances to score seven goals either, as they have an Expected Goals (xG) figure of only 3.9. That gives them a finishing efficiency of +3.1 – the best of any Bundesliga team after two matchdays. That could be particularly important against Bayern, where clear-cut chances will surely be harder to come by against last season's champions.
Schalke blueprint
While Bayern's 5-1 victory against VfB Stuttgart showcased their free-flowing attack at its devestating best, the Matchday 2 trip to promoted Schalke was a very different story. Head coach Vincent Kompany opted to rotate his attack with a view to this week's UEFA Champions League tie with Bodø/Glimt, meaning the likes of Harry Kane and Michael Olise were absent from Bayern's starting XI.
The selection gamble backfired, as a Loris Karius-inspired Schalke side held on for a famous 0-0 draw. For the first time in five years, Bayern haven't won their opening two matches of the season.
More tellingly, the result in Gelsenkirchen also ended one of Bayern's most impressive recent runs. Remarkably, they had been Bundesliga leaders for 67 consecutive matchdays across multiple seasons while scoring in their previous 59 competitive fixtures.
Bayern's Saarland struggles
Elversberg can draw further encouragement from the history books. Bayern's trip to the Ursapharm-Arena will be their first Bundesliga fixture in Saarland for almost 34 years. Their previous visit came in October 1992, when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Saarbrücken.
Incredibly, Saarland remains the only German federal state where Bayern have a negative all-time Bundesliga record. Across their previous away meetings with Saarbrücken, Homburg and Borussia Neunkirchen, the Bavarians have won only twice - drawing four and losing three times overall.
Elversberg will now become the latest Saarland club to welcome the record champions to their corner of Germany. On Matchday 3, they have the opportunity to further compound Bayern's Saarland struggles.
