New Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand remains positive despite a rocky start. He believes the team has the quality for top performances. Key players like Patrik Schick are highlighted, while Frankfurt’s Ritsu Doan is also noted. Opta predicts a Leverkusen win.
Kasper Hjulmand, the newly appointed head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, has expressed his confidence in the team's ability to deliver "top performances," despite a tumultuous summer and a sluggish beginning to their Bundesliga campaign. The former Denmark national team manager took the reins earlier this week, inking a two-year contract following Erik ten Hag's unexpected departure. Hjulmand faces an immediate challenge as Leverkusen prepares to host the in-form Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.
Leverkusen is still searching for their first league victory of the season after a 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim and a 3-3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen. The summer transfer window saw a significant exodus of key players following Xabi Alonso's departure, with notable names like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka, and Piero Hincapie all leaving the club.
When you realise it’s matchday tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/5sROcorMWG
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) September 11, 2025
"It is a big challenge because in football you need processes to make that work," Hjulmand stated during his inaugural press conference. "You don’t push a button. You have to work every day and create. There is so much quality. We are looking to make that work and tick. Suddenly, it will hopefully explode. We don’t know when. Until then we will have good minutes, bad minutes, and make it work.
"If you want to be a top team you have to be good at almost all facets of the game. I have the feeling I can be myself here. I don’t have to explain how I want to play football, how to lead. There have been changes but also very, very good players are left. It is up to us to create a fantastic team on and off the pitch."
Hjulmand's arrival marks a new chapter for Leverkusen, a club with aspirations of consistently competing at the top of the Bundesliga. His emphasis on process and team-building suggests a long-term vision, acknowledging that immediate success may not be guaranteed but is achievable through dedication and hard work.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bayer Leverkusen – Patrik Schick
Since joining Leverkusen in the summer of 2020, Patrik Schick has been a prolific goal scorer, netting 66 Bundesliga goals. Only Robert Lewandowski, with 76 goals, has scored more in that period. The Czech striker recently scored twice against Werder Bremen, marking his second brace in just three league appearances. Schick has a favorable record against Frankfurt, scoring five goals against them in the Bundesliga, fewer only than his tallies versus Freiburg and Hoffenheim (six each).
Eintracht Frankfurt – Ritsu Doan
Ritsu Doan delivered his most productive Bundesliga performance in his 133rd appearance, contributing to three goals, scoring two and assisting another against Hoffenheim. The Japanese international has already recorded two braces in just three competitive games for Frankfurt, exceeding the single brace he managed across 123 matches with Freiburg.
MATCH PREDICTION: LEVERKUSEN WIN
Leverkusen boasts an impressive record against Frankfurt at home, having won their last 10 Bundesliga matches. This streak is equaled only by their previous runs against Hannover 96 and MSV Duisburg. A victory in the upcoming match would set a new club record. Frankfurt is the opponent against whom Leverkusen has secured the most home top-flight victories, with a total of 25. Notably, the 80 Bundesliga encounters between these two sides have never resulted in a goalless draw, marking the longest such streak in the league's history.
However, Leverkusen's recent form has been concerning, as they have failed to win any of their last five Bundesliga games, with three draws and two losses. They have accumulated just one point this season, a tally they had surpassed after two matches in five of the last six campaigns, with the exception of the 2022-23 season.
Conversely, Frankfurt is currently enjoying an unbeaten run of eight league games, with five wins and three draws. Their last longer unbeaten streak occurred between December 2020 and February 2021, when Adi Hutter led them to 11 consecutive matches without defeat. Only Bayern Munich (11) and Borussia Dortmund (10) have longer current unbeaten runs in the Bundesliga.
Frankfurt has also won both of their opening games for just the second time this century, the previous instance being in 2012-13. The only times they have managed three straight wins to start a season were in 2012-13 (four) and 1966-67 (three).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Bayer Leverkusen – 41.8%
Draw – 24.3%
Eintracht Frankfurt – 33.9%