RB Leipzig began life without Timo Werner on a winning note with a 3-1 victory over Mainz on Sunday.
Swede Emil Forsberg gave Leipzig the lead with a penalty in the 17th minute before Dane Youssouf Poulsen doubled their lead four minutes later.
Jean-Phillipe Mateta pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 48th minute but Amadou Haidara gave the hosts some breathing space three minutes later with the final goal of the evening.
It is Leipzig's second season under coach Julian Nagelsmann and they will be looking to improve on their third-placed position last season and break the dominance of the 'big two'.
While Leipzig looked impressive without their former talisman, Bayer Leverkusen played to a 0-0 draw with Wolfsburg on Sunday in their first league game without Kai Havertz.
Havertz has departed German shores like his now-Chelsea teammate Werner and his former Leverkusen side will feel the more aggrieved of the two sides, having enjoyed 60 percent of the possession against Wolfsburg.
Coach Peter Bosz will be desperate to improve on their fifth-placed finish of last season. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg finished a further 14 points.
