On-loan Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson celebrated his Bundesliga debut with a goal, but it was not enough for Hoffenheim as they went down 2-1 at Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday.
England U20 forward Nelson wasted little time in opening his account for Hoffenheim on Matchday 3, with the Arsenal-owned youngster finding the back of the net with his first shot in the Bundesliga.
Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, the personal joy in scoring was tempered by his side's defeat in Düsseldorf, as a late Dodi Lukebakio penalty earned the hosts all three points. However, the composure he showed, first in sensing the opportunity, then taking it with aplomb, showed his keenness to deliver on the promise he made when he arrived in Germany.
"For me I need to just play," he said ahead of his debut. "Getting the experience under Julian [Nagelsmann], under new players, playing the game and getting new tactics from everyone and involved and hopefully then to push on to make the first team and show what I can do, score goals, create goals and just be a great player for the team."
Nelson seems to be settling in well in Sinsheim and on this evidence, his UEFA Champions League debut could follow at Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.