New Bayer Leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand insisted his squad nonetheless have the expertise to supply “high performances” regardless of a turbulent summer time and a gradual begin to the Bundesliga season.
The previous Denmark boss was appointed earlier this week, signing a two-year deal following Erik ten Hag’s shock dismissal, and he faces a troublesome opening take a look at with in-form Eintracht Frankfurt visiting on Friday.
Leverkusen are nonetheless chasing their first league win of the marketing campaign after a 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim was adopted by a 3-3 draw with 10-man Werder Bremen.
Following the departure of Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen endured a significant summer time exodus, with Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka, and Piero Hincapie amongst these to go away.
If you realise it’s matchday tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/5sROcorMWG
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 11, 2025
“It’s a large problem as a result of in soccer you want processes to make that work,” Hjulmand mentioned in his first press convention.
“You don’t push a button. You must work day by day and create. There’s a lot high quality. We wish to make that work and tick. Instantly, it can hopefully explode. We don’t know when. Till then we can have good minutes, unhealthy minutes, and make it work.
“If you wish to be a high crew you need to be good at virtually all aspects of the sport.
“I’ve the sensation I might be myself right here. I don’t have to elucidate how I need to play soccer, the right way to lead.
“There have been adjustments but additionally very, excellent gamers are left. It’s as much as us to create a unbelievable crew on and off the pitch.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bayer Leverkusen – Patrik Schick
Since becoming a member of Leverkusen in the summertime of 2020, Schick has netted 66 Bundesliga objectives — a tally bettered solely by Robert Lewandowski’s 76 in that interval. The Czech striker grabbed a brace in opposition to Werder Bremen, his second in three league appearances.
Frankfurt have additionally been one among his favoured opponents with 5 objectives in opposition to them within the Bundesliga, fewer solely than his tallies versus Freiburg and Hoffenheim (six every).
Eintracht Frankfurt – Ritsu Doan
Doan had his best Bundesliga outing in his 133rd look, contributing to 3 objectives, netting two and registering an help in opposition to Hoffenheim final day trip.
Remarkably, the Japanese worldwide has already recorded two braces in simply three aggressive video games for Frankfurt — surpassing the only brace he managed throughout 123 matches with Freiburg.
MATCH PREDICTION: LEVERKUSEN WIN
Leverkusen have received their final 10 house Bundesliga video games in opposition to Frankfurt, one thing that they had solely ever matched earlier than in opposition to Hannover 96 and MSV Duisburg, and now have the possibility to set a brand new membership file.
No different opponent has seen Leverkusen earn extra house top-flight victories than Frankfurt, with 25 in complete. Curiously, throughout 80 Bundesliga conferences, the 2 sides have by no means ended a recreation goalless, marking the longest such streak within the league’s historical past.
Leverkusen, nevertheless, have didn’t win any of their final 5 Bundesliga video games (three attracts and two losses). They’ve only one level to this point this season, a complete that they had exceeded after two matches in 5 of the final six campaigns (the one exception being the 2022-23 season with zero).
Frankfurt, in contrast, are unbeaten of their final eight league video games (5 wins and three attracts), final having fun with an extended run between December 2020 and February 2021 when Adi Hutter led them to 11 straight matches with out defeat. At current, solely Bayern Munich (11) and Borussia Dortmund (10) are on longer unbeaten runs within the Bundesliga.
Eintracht have additionally received each of their opening video games for simply the second time this century, the earlier occasion being in 2012-13. The one instances they’ve managed three straight wins to begin a season had been in 2012-13 (4) and 1966-67 (three).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Bayer Leverkusen – 41.8%
Draw – 24.3%
Eintracht Frankfurt – 33.9%
