LEVERKUSEN, Germany (Interstat) — Bayer Leverkusen delivered a stunning and emphatic statement to open its Bundesliga season, dismantling Wolfsburg 6-3 in a chaotic and high-scoring affair Saturday at BayArena.

The match, which wildly exceeded pregame projections, saw the home side overcome an early deficit with a relentless offensive display, netting five unanswered goals after the 31st minute to secure a decisive victory.

The contest began against the run of play for Leverkusen. Against the flow of early pressure, Wolfsburg’s substitute Jonas Wind opened the scoring in the 16th minute, capitalizing on a transition opportunity to stun the home crowd. Leverkusen’s response was swift and sustained, but Wolfsburg doubled its lead against the grain in the 31st minute. Another substitute, Joakim Mæhle, found the net to put the visitors up 2-0, a scoreline that defied Interstat’s pregame projection of a 1-1 draw and Leverkusen’s 72.7% probability to win.

That second goal served as a catalyst for a breathtaking Leverkusen onslaught. Just six minutes after falling behind by two, defender Alejandro Grimaldo ignited the comeback, pulling a goal back in the 37th minute. The momentum fully shifted just before halftime, as defender Edmond Tapsoba leveled the score at 2-2 in the 44th minute, completing a dramatic first-half turnaround.

The second half belonged entirely to Leverkusen. Grimaldo struck again in the 68th minute, giving the hosts their first lead of the match. The floodgates then opened. Midfielder Ibrahim Maza extended the advantage to 4-2 just five minutes later in the 73rd minute. Substitute Malik Tillman put the exclamation point on the victory deep into stoppage time, slotting home Leverkusen’s sixth goal in the 90+6th minute.

Wolfsburg managed a late consolation goal in the final moments, but it did little to diminish the scale of Leverkusen’s dominant performance. The 6-3 final was a testament to Leverkusen’s attacking depth and resilience, with goals coming from defenders, midfielders and forwards alike.

Key individual performances underpinned the victory. Defender Edmond Tapsoba was instrumental, contributing a goal and an assist to both stabilize the defense and spark the attack. Fellow defender Alejandro Grimaldo’s brace was critical in shifting and then extending Leverkusen’s lead. From the bench, Joakim Mæhle provided a goal and an assist for Wolfsburg in a losing effort.

The match was a physical one, with four yellow cards issued. Leverkusen’s Tapsoba was booked in the 37th minute, while Wolfsburg’s Mæhle saw yellow in the 29th. Substitutes Konstantinos Koulierakis and Denis Vavro, both of Wolfsburg, were also cautioned in the second half.

The result immediately alters the early Bundesliga landscape. Bayer Leverkusen begins its campaign with a commanding victory, starting the season with one win and no losses. Wolfsburg, conversely, is left to regroup after a defeat that saw a promising early lead evaporate, starting its season with no wins and one loss. The nine-goal spectacle served notice that Leverkusen’s attacking ambitions for the season are formidable.