Kaspar Hjulmand says no person at Bayer Leverkusen is panicking following their chastening 4-1 defeat to Stuttgart, with Tuesday’s journey to Hamburg on the horizon.
Leverkusen shipped 4 objectives within the first half on Saturday, with Jamie Leweling scoring twice and Deniz Undav getting three purpose involvements (two objectives, two assists).
It was Leverkusen’s heaviest defeat since they had been routed 7-2 by Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League in October, and a league-high 36 objectives have now been scored within the first half of their Bundesliga matches this season.
Leverkusen are nonetheless fourth within the Bundesliga however are solely forward of fifth-placed Stuttgart on purpose distinction, with Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt additionally inside three factors of them because the battle for European qualification heats up.
Their subsequent opponents, HSV, in the meantime, are thirteenth within the desk and 4 factors away from the relegation play-off spot.
“We’re not panicking,” Hjulmand mentioned at Monday’s pre-match press convention. “Generally there are merely setbacks, that’s all a part of it.
“We stay calm, are optimistic and really feel good. The gamers know what to do.
“In fact, we’ve analysed the Stuttgart recreation and checked out our form in one-v-ones and duels. We all know we completely must do higher towards HSV. That’s our full focus now.”
Leverkusen might have Christian Kofane and Ibrahim Maza out there after Cameroon and Algeria had been each eradicated from the Africa Cup of Nations, however Hjulmand will verify on their circumstances forward of the sport.
“We’ve to see how they really feel. I understand how a lot strain nationwide groups are below at a match like this,” the previous Denmark boss mentioned.
“It’s essential for me to speak to them and see them on the pitch to evaluate how prepared they’re.”
HSV have 16 factors after 16 matchdays, yet another than that they had on the identical stage of their final Bundesliga season in 2017-18 (15).
Solely as soon as of their final 5 Bundesliga campaigns have HSV collected extra factors at this stage of the competitors – successful 22 factors from 16 video games in 2015-16.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hamburger SV – Luka Vuskovic
Vuskovic scored HSV’s first purpose from a nook within the 2025-26 Bundesliga throughout Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Freiburg, as they turned the ultimate crew within the German top-flight to take action this season.
The 18-year-old is the second-youngest participant on this Bundesliga marketing campaign with a minimum of three objectives, behind Bayern Munich star Lennart Karl (17 years outdated).
3 – At 18 years and 320 days, Luka Vuskovic scored his third Bundesliga purpose; solely Heung-Min Son (18 years, 135 days) was youthful when he did so for Hamburger SV. Bosskovic. pic.twitter.com/BQXfJyGcwZ
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) January 10, 2026
Bayer Leverkusen – Alejandro Grimaldo
Grimaldo matched his purpose involvement tally from all the earlier Bundesliga season (two objectives, seven assists) final weekend, registering his ninth Bundesliga purpose contribution of the season (5 objectives, 4 assists).
The left-back can be the Werkself’s chief for purpose involvements throughout all competitions this season (15 – 10 objectives, 5 assists), forward of Patrik Schick (11 purpose contributions).
MATCH PREDICTION – BAYER LEVERKUSEN WIN
HSV have misplaced 4 of their final 5 Bundesliga matches towards Leverkusen (W1), with their solely win throughout this era being a 1-0 dwelling victory below Markus Gisdol in 2017.
Within the final seven encounters between the 2 sides since 2015, HSV have scored solely three objectives in whole, whereas Leverkusen have scored 13.
Since a 2-1 loss to Arminia Bielefeld in 2021, Leverkusen haven’t misplaced any of their final 17 Bundesliga matches towards promoted groups (W13 D4) – a club-record run.
Throughout the division, solely RB Leipzig are on an extended present unbeaten run towards promoted sides (38 video games).
Hamburg have collected 14 of their 16 Bundesliga factors this season in dwelling video games and are unbeaten of their final 4 matches on the Volksparkstadion (W2 D2).
However Leverkusen have received 4 of their six away Bundesliga matches below Hjulmand (L2). They’ve averaged two factors per away recreation (12 in six) since Hjulmand’s appointment – solely Bayern have extra since then (2.6, 13 factors in 5 away video games).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Hamburger SV – 30.2%
Bayer Leverkusen – 44.6%
Draw – 25.2%