The Guardian
Elversberg and ‘miracle village’ prove that Bundesliga fairytales still exist | Andy Brassell 31 August 2026 at 14:52

Elversberg and ‘miracle village’ prove that Bundesliga fairytales still exist | Andy Brassell

31 August 2026 at 14:52

German football has long insisted there is more to their elite league than a title race. Now they have a story that shows the world that surprise and wonder does live here too

Friday night was no first day fun for VfB Stuttgart as they got first-hand proof of what the rest of the Bundesliga feared: that Bayern Munich are perhaps mightier than ever. The curtain-raiser, though, didn’t actually set the tone for the the weekend. German football has long insisted there is more to their elite league than a title race, and now they have a story that shows the world that surprise and wonder does indeed live here too.

Bayer Leverkusen arrived into their opening fixture of the campaign thinking their season might contain greater certainty than the last one, a more tranquil voyage after being blown off course by almost €300m of player sales and the ill-fated appointment of Erik ten Hag. Enter SV Elversberg, Bundesliga first-timers and representatives of – a “miracle village” as Bild put it – Spiesen-Elversberg, a town with a population of just over 13,000, situated 15km north-east of Saarbrücken, 30 minutes’ drive from the French border.

The Guardian
European football: Bellingham sparks Real Madrid’s cruise to maintain perfect start 31 August 2026 at 00:19

European football: Bellingham sparks Real Madrid’s cruise to maintain perfect start

The Guardian

By: Agencies

31 August 2026 at 00:19

Promoted Málaga slump to 4-0 defeat at the Bernabéu
Como defeat Napoli; Jones makes Inter debut in win

Real Madrid maintained their perfect start to the season in La Liga with a comfortable 4-0 home ⁠win over promoted Málaga on Sunday, scoring three times inside 30 minutes before adding a late fourth.

Jude Bellingham’s brilliant solo opener, an own ⁠goal by the Málaga goalkeeper, ⁠Alfonso Herrero, and a sharp Kylian Mbappé volley in effect settled the contest before half-time, with the substitute Arda Guler wrapping up the victory in added time at ⁠the Bernabéu.

The Guardian
European football: PSG scramble another draw while Bayern make flying start 29 August 2026 at 02:15

European football: PSG scramble another draw while Bayern make flying start

The Guardian

By: Agencies

29 August 2026 at 02:15

Marquinhos grabs late equaliser for Ligue 1 champions
Bayern overwhelm Stuttgart 5-1 at Allianz Arena

Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos scored deep into stoppage ⁠time to snatch a scarcely deserved 2-2 draw at Lille on Friday as the Ligue 1 champions ⁠continued to struggle ⁠after being held by Rennes on the opening weekend.

After the poor 2-2 draw ‌against Rennes, things went from bad to worse for PSG when Lille took the lead in the 21st minute as Icelandic playmaker Hákon Haraldsson latched on to a brilliant reverse pass from Olivier Giroud and curled an unstoppable shot past ‌Matvei Safonov.