New Bayer Leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand insisted his squad nonetheless have the expertise to supply “high performances” regardless of a turbulent summer season 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 tough 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 serious summer season exodus, with Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka, and Piero Hincapie amongst these to depart.
While you realise it’s matchday tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/5sROcorMWG
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 11, 2025
“It’s a massive 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. It’s important to work daily and create. There’s a lot high quality. We wish to make that work and tick. All of a sudden, it’ll hopefully explode. We don’t know when. Till then we could have good minutes, dangerous minutes, and make it work.
“If you wish to be a high workforce it’s a must to be good at nearly all sides of the sport.
“I’ve the sensation I will be myself right here. I don’t have to elucidate how I wish to play soccer, how you can lead.
“There have been adjustments but in addition very, superb gamers are left. It’s as much as us to create a unbelievable workforce 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 targets — a tally bettered solely by Robert Lewandowski’s 76 in that interval. The Czech striker grabbed a brace towards Werder Bremen, his second in three league appearances.
Frankfurt have additionally been considered one of his favoured opponents with 5 targets towards 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 a few targets, netting two and registering an help towards Hoffenheim final day out.
Remarkably, the Japanese worldwide has already recorded two braces in simply three aggressive video games for Frankfurt — surpassing the one brace he managed throughout 123 matches with Freiburg.
MATCH PREDICTION: LEVERKUSEN WIN
Leverkusen have gained their final 10 house Bundesliga video games towards Frankfurt, one thing they’d solely ever matched earlier than towards Hannover 96 and MSV Duisburg, and now have the possibility to set a brand new membership report.
No different opponent has seen Leverkusen earn extra house top-flight victories than Frankfurt, with 25 in whole. 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, nonetheless, have didn’t win any of their final 5 Bundesliga video games (three attracts and two losses). They’ve only one level to date this season, a complete they’d 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 gained each of their opening video games for simply the second time this century, the earlier occasion being in 2012-13. The one occasions they’ve managed three straight wins to start out a season have been in 2012-13 (4) and 1966-67 (three).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Bayer Leverkusen – 41.8%
Draw – 24.3%
Eintracht Frankfurt – 33.9%