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When fans around the world settle down to watch Bayern against Bayer Leverkusen at 18:30 CET on Saturday, they should make sure their drinks and snacks are within reach. That’s because any unnecessary look away over the following 90 minutes could easily result in you missing a big moment as the flawless Bundesliga leaders host an always exciting Werkself side. Leverkusen have seen plenty of highs and lows already this season ahead of their trip to Munich. It makes this Bundesliga game a tough one to predict.
Plenty of goals at both ends
A lack of stability has been Leverkusen’s primary issue since coach Xabi Alonso left to take over Real Madrid following a hugely successful spell. Erik ten Hag was brought in to reshape the team and build on those glory days, but the club cut ties with the Dutchman after only two Bundesliga games without a win. Kasper Hjulmand was parachuted in to pick up the mantle and set about the task of forming a team that was almost unrecognisable from a few months earlier and making them competitive in three competitions. “It’ll be hard work, but the potential is huge. We’ll try to get things going. We don’t know when, but at some point things will hopefully just explode,” the Dane said at his unveiling of his objectives at the BayArena.
Kasper Hjulmand has used Aleix Garcia as his general in midfield. | © Imago
Leverkusen have been making excellent progress in the Bundesliga under Hjulmand, earning 16 of a possible 18 points in his six games. It’s helped the 2024 champions up to fifth and only two points behind RB Leipzig in second place. However, things haven’t quite gone to plan in the Champions League. After opening draws with Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven, the Werkself then hosted holders Paris Saint-Germain last week and were convincingly beaten 7-2. On the one hand, it shows that Hjulmand’s charges are still looking for consistency, but the result can also be pinned on an injury crisis the team has been suffering.
Similarly, Wednesday’s DFB Cup tie away at Paderborn was again emblematic of Leverkusen’s season. They had a man advantage after the hour mark and then took the lead but were forced into extra-time by the Bundesliga 2 club and eventually fell behind. It took goals beyond the 120th minute from Ibrahim Maza and Aleix Garcia to finally settle the second-round tie. Could the extra effort of that 4-2 win lead to some tired legs in Munich at the weekend?
Tillman to miss out
Leverkusen’s injury list is long, currently consisting of Exequiel Palacios (adductor), Nathan Tella (knee), Axel Tape (thigh), Lucas Vazquez (muscular) and Ezequiel Fernandez (knee). Former Bayern youngster Malik Tillman will likely also miss out with a muscular issue. The Werkself have also had to cope without the likes of Jarrel Quansah, Jeanuel Belocian, Martin Terrier and Patrik Schick in recent weeks, but all are fit again.
Leverkusen’s run of eight games without a loss was ended in comprehensive fashion by PSG. | © Getty Images
Comings and goings
Leverkusen’s squad underwent almost a complete overhaul in the summer. Key figures such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Lukas Hradecky, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie and Victor Boniface all moved on, while Tillman, Quansah, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Loic Bade, Fernandez, Maza, Mark Flekken, Ernest Poku, Christian Kofane, Claudio Echeverri and Vazquez arrived at the BayArena. Nevertheless, Ten Hag and now Hjulmand have both stuck with the 3-4-3 formation of the Alonso era.
“You sense we’re growing together as a team. But it’s a process that can only be driven with time and playing together,” said new goalkeeper Flekken. Following the departures of Tah and Hincapie, Quansah (Liverpool) and Bade (Sevilla) have joined Edmond Tapsoba in front of the Dutchman in defence. Garcia has taken on Xhaka’s metronome role in midfield, as well as his penchant for long-range goals, as he showed against PSG. The 28-year-old and fellow Spaniard Alejandro Grimaldo are two pillars of the team.
The latter has been in superb form this season, contributing seven goals and four assists already from 13 competitive fixtures. Usually deployed at wing-back, the vice-captain was used a bit further forward against Paderborn and Freiburg. Poku, 21, has also caught the eye of late and already has three goals and an assist from seven Bundesliga games following his arrival from AZ Alkmaar.
Leverkusen’s system under Hjulmand
The blip against PSG aside, Leverkusen have looked solid and structured but also flexible when needed under Hjulmand. The former Denmark boss wants his team to have the ball and make use of changes of tempo and vertical passes. His preferred 3-4-3/3-2-4-1 formation ensures a stable foundation built on assured passing and patience before pouncing in a flash. When working out from the back, the Werkself can either play it flat to work their way up the pitch or quickly get the ball out wide to attack up the wings. Clever distributors like Garcia ensure creativity and control in midfield, while wing-backs Grimaldo, Arthur and Vazquez offer width in the forward areas. When defending, they all get back in their shape and try to cut off any space.
Hjulmand wants his team to be active in winning back the ball, counter-pressing when they lose it. Even with the changes in personnel, the philosophy remains to be courageous, to try and play and also to be clever. With a sense of flexibility, it is reminiscent of the successful Alonso era. “We’ve become more stable, have basic things that we always want to have in our game, like counter-pressing,” Jonas Hofmann said recently. “When you do the basics and those virtues – then paired with individual quality and the quality of the team – you increase your chances of winning games. That’s where our strength lies,” he added.
That brave approach from a team that’s still inexperienced at the very top level could well lead to another spectacular show at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Bayern’s Bundesliga games this season have seen an average of over four goals, while Leverkusen’s last three competitive fixtures alone have produced 18 goals and their last four away league outings have seen wins of 4-3 and 2-1, plus 2-2 and 3-3 draws. Strap in for a thriller!
Former Leverkusen man Tah has a plan for this game:
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