The sports weekend, 29–30 August 2026: An exciting Bundesliga debut for HCL, RB get off to a winning start, Lok suffer a shock defeat in stoppage time

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Yes, there was football too. But this time, handball is definitely our number one! Because after nine long, gruelling years, HC Leipzig are back in the 1. Bundesliga. The season kicked off on Saturday with a home match against last season’s runners-up, Borussia Dortmund. The RB players had to contend with another Borussia side – the one from Mönchengladbach. And: 1. FC Lok aren’t making much headway at the moment. The LZ summarises the highlights of the Leipzig sports weekend on 29–30 August 2026.

An atmospheric Bundesliga debut for HC Leipzig

Well over 1,100 handball fans were keen not to miss this special spectacle at the Markranstädt Sports Centre: the HCL women’s team are finally back in the top flight! And as the icing on the cake, one of Germany’s absolute top teams, Borussia Dortmund, were the visitors. Given this line-up, it was of course clear that the main priority for the newly promoted side would be to put in a decent performance and not suffer a humiliating defeat straight away.

Despite a clear 28–36 defeat, however, the Leipzig women can undoubtedly be credited with having put in an outstanding performance. Marlene Tucholke made her mark in the club’s history, as the 18-year-old scored the first Bundesliga goal of the new HCL era with her 1:1 equaliser. Tucholke went on to score six more goals during the match, making her Leipzig’s top scorer.

The real sporting tension had already faded somewhat by half-time, as Dortmund took a comfortable 13–21 lead into the break. “It didn’t really feel as though we were eight goals down,” said HCL captain Pauline Uhlmann afterwards in an interview with the LZ. “In terms of our play, we made good use of our chances up front. It was more a case of converting those chances – something Dortmund were able to capitalise on, scoring their fast-break goals. That’s how the gap quickly opened up towards the end of the first half.”

However, her team didn’t let that get them down. “We just carried on in the second half; we were keen to rile them and keen to keep scoring goals,” said Uhlmann. “I think the second half was very good.” And indeed: the second half was even, ending 15–15. Whilst that didn’t reduce the deficit, it did boost their confidence and bring joy: “I think you could see that, regardless of the result, we were all having a lot of fun on the court,” said the captain, beaming. “That was also one of our main goals – to enjoy the fact that we’re finally here and can play freely against Dortmund.”

Game by game, HC Leipzig must now continue to find their feet in the new league and get used to the pace and physicality that characterise it. The next opportunity to do so comes this coming Saturday, 5 September, in their first away match against Buxtehuder SV. Incidentally, they too lost their opening match.

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RB kick off with a win against Mönchengladbach

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, RB Leipzig’s footballers had also kicked off their Bundesliga season with a home match. And they did so very successfully. The final score against Borussia Mönchengladbach was 3–0 to the hosts, as shown on the big screen. It was Ridle Baku who scored RBL’s first goal of this brand-new season in the 26th minute. The teams went into the break with this ultimately deserved 1–0 lead.

And after the break, it didn’t take long at all for the goal music to blare out once more through the sold-out RB Arena. This time, it was Antonio Nusa who sparked the celebration by placing the ball with pinpoint accuracy into the top far corner – 2–0 (49’). But a goal for the Red-Whites was yet to come – and, to round off the story, it was scored by none other than Rocco Reitz (66′). He had already been met with an extra dose of boos from the Gladbach supporters’ stand when the line-ups were announced. They haven’t forgiven him in the slightest for his move from Borussia to the Rasenballer.

With this 3–0 opening-day victory, RBL are straight back in the thick of it and must now prove themselves next Saturday, 5 September, away at SV Werder Bremen.

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Lok shock in stoppage time

Things have been rather so-so so far this season for the Regionalliga champions of the past two seasons. 1. FC Lok suffered two home defeats in the space of a single week. Following Tuesday’s 0–2 defeat to Chemnitzer FC, they suffered a 1–2 loss this Sunday afternoon against Erzgebirge Aue, who were relegated from the Third Division. What made it particularly bitter was that the decisive goal, scored by Marcel Bär, came in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time.

In front of over 8,000 spectators – around 1,100 of whom were from the Erzgebirge region – the relatively uneventful first half had ended goalless. But just eight minutes after the restart, Linus Queißer suddenly gave the ‘Veilchen’ something to cheer about – 0–1 (53’). The Blue-and-Yellows, however, were in for a collective celebration a good quarter of an hour later: New signing Nils Kaiser simply unleashed a powerful shot from just outside the penalty area; although Aue goalkeeper Martin Männel managed to get a hand to the ball, he was powerless against the force of the strike – the equaliser! That score held until almost the final whistle – almost!

“I do think we clearly dominated the game for ninety minutes,” summarised Lok coach Torsten Ziegner in the subsequent press conference, though he criticised some avoidable mistakes in defence. Overall, the disappointed 48-year-old saw “too many situations in his team’s play where they fell just short of winning the match”. Lok now have a two-week break in the league, but will be in action next Sunday, 6 September, in the Saxony Cup against Oberliga side VfB Auerbach. It’s actually a good opportunity to rebuild their confidence.

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What the LZ reported at the weekend:

Letter to the editor in the Anhalt dialect: Dear 42 per cent of Saxony-Anhalt residents who want to vote for the AfD …

A letter to the editor on the current mood: Dear 42 per cent of Saxony-Anhalt residents who intend to vote for the AfD soon …

Leipzig needs more revenue: The Greens propose a higher rate for the accommodation tax

He is alleged to have raped his daughter: Magistrates’ court sentences man to a prison term

Regional court ruling: Grandfather convicted of abusing his granddaughter

Labour market in August: Unemployment has risen further in the Leipzig Employment Agency district.

Sunday Church No. 167: A place of worship turned into a ‘circus church’ – repurposing in Großkayna

Other important news:

The RB Leipzig women’s Bundesliga football team have also lost their second match of the season. Just as in their opening match against Leverkusen, the final score today against SV Werder Bremen was 0–2. Both goals were scored in the first half. A quarter of an hour before the end, player Lou-Ann Joly was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

The BSG Chemie Leipzig men’s Regionalliga football team have secured their second point. Away to favourites VSG Altglienicke, the bottom-of-the-table side managed a somewhat surprising 1–1 draw.

Following their relegation, the SC DHfK Leipzig men’s handball team will initially continue in the 2nd Bundesliga. Their first match is scheduled for tomorrow, Monday. At 7.30 pm, GWD Minden – the other team to be relegated – will visit the local arena. For Leipzig, there is only one goal: immediate promotion!