Hjulmand Revives Leverkusen Squad Earlier Than Anticipated
Bayer Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand has got the 2023-24 double champions performing strongly in a year expected to involve reconstruction following a chaotic summer and a short unsuccessful period under Erik ten Hag.
Leverkusen welcome Borussia Dortmund on Saturday and are positioning themselves as the leading challengers in the Bundesliga trailing far ahead Bayern Munich.
The most recent demonstration of Hjulmands impact came in Tuesdays 2-0 Champions League victory away to Manchester City.
Although Guardiola rotated with 10 alterations Leverkusen suffered significantly from injuries and bans featuring seven young players aged 19 or under on the bench. Just four of the starting lineup were with the team during the previous campaign.
Following an unbeaten domestic double two years back Leverkusens summer of 2025 disruptions has received plenty of coverage.
In addition to the departure of manager Xabi Alonso who masterminded the clubs inaugural Bundesliga crown after 120 years Leverkusen parted ways with numerous vital squad members such as Florian Wirtz Granit Xhaka Jonathan Tah Jeremie Frimpong and Lukas Hradecky.
Alonsos successor the ex Manchester United head coach Ten Hag was dismissed after only two Bundesliga outings leaving Hjulmand with minimal preparation time.
Featuring twelve fresh arrivals in the team Hjulmand has secured seven victories and one draw across his nine Bundesliga fixtures.
Across 15 matches in various tournaments since Hjulmand took charge Leverkusen have suffered defeat on just two occasions against elite sides Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain.
We are constructing a fresh squad here. There is a clear strategy and progress is evident Hjulmand commented following the triumph over City on Tuesday.
There is substantial promise ahead. Improvement remains possible. Successes such as the one versus City serve as motivation for our growth.
Typically the runner up in German football Dortmund have been outshone by Leverkusen lately.
Dortmund secured a comfortable 4-0 victory at home against Villarreal during the week yet they have faced difficulties versus elite rivals this term with losses to Bayern and City alongside draws with Juventus RB Leipzig and Stuttgart.
Post Saturdays encounter in Leverkusen the teams will clash once more three days afterwards in the German Cup round of 16 at Dortmund.
Player to observe Lennart Karl
Bayern Munich prospect Lennart Karl at only 17 has proven comfortable at the elite level this week despite his youth as an attacking midfielder.
Karl netted during Saturdays 6-2 triumph over Freiburg and repeated the feat in Wednesdays 3-1 Champions League setback versus Arsenal marking Bayerns initial defeat this season.
Endowed with speed and sharp finishing instincts Karl earned praise from fellow Bayern youth graduate this week in the form of experienced striker Thomas Mueller.
Lennart brings vibrant enthusiasm currently he is finding the net and contributing to crucial moments Mueller shared with RTL.
His dedication to enhancement is visible alongside his enjoyment of the sport. Progressing is essential but avoiding overzealousness is equally key.
I feel they are striking an effective equilibrium.
Essential figures
8 Eintracht Frankfurt striker Jonathan Burkardt has tallied eight goals across 10 Bundesliga appearances this term encompassing three two goal hauls. He sustained a calf issue on Thursday ruling him out for the remainder of the year.
12 Michael Olise boasts six goals and six assists in 11 Bundesliga outings.
Schedule 1430 GMT except where noted
Friday
Borussia Moenchengladbach v RB Leipzig 1930
Saturday
Union Berlin v Heidenheim Bayern Munich v St Pauli Werder Bremen v Cologne Hoffenheim v Augsburg Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund 1730
Sunday
Hamburg v Stuttgart 1430 Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg 1630 Freiburg v Mainz 1830