Bayer Leverkusen will begin a new chapter under manager Kasper Hjulmand as they host Eintracht Frankfurt at the BayArena on Friday.
The club is already on its second manager of the season following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, who oversaw only three matches with one victory in the DFB-Pokal against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Leverkusen lost their Bundesliga opener against Hoffenheim and drew 3-3 with 10-man Werder Bremen after relinquishing a 3-1 lead in their second match.
Ten Hag's departure was influenced by multiple factors, including a strained relationship with the club's hierarchy and tensions between him and the players during pre-season. As a result, Leverkusen opted to appoint former Denmark coach Hjulmand as Ten Hag's successor.
Hjulmand is set to begin his second tenure in the Bundesliga, having previously managed Mainz during the 2014-15 season. This match will also mark his return to club football since leaving Nordsjælland in 2019.
Leverkusen will be looking to extend their strong performance in this fixture, having won their last 10 Bundesliga home matches against Frankfurt. In the previous season, Robert Andrich and Victor Boniface each scored to secure a 2-1 victory over Frankfurt at the BayArena.
In terms of team news, Hjulmand will not have Martin Terrier and Jonas Hofmann available due to injuries. Jeanuël Belocian is nearing a return but will miss this match. Former Real Madrid player Lucas Vázquez is expected to make his debut for Leverkusen.
Frankfurt enters this match buoyed by a strong start to their Bundesliga campaign, having secured a 4-1 victory at home against Werder Bremen on matchday one and a 3-1 win against Hoffenheim, with Ritsu Doan scoring twice. They currently sit in second place with a record of eight league games unbeaten since March, including five wins and three draws.
To maintain their perfect record, Frankfurt will need to secure an away victory over Leverkusen, something they have not achieved since December 2013. Historically, Frankfurt has struggled defensively against Leverkusen, conceding at least three goals in five of their last six encounters.
Team news for Frankfurt includes the absence of Mario Götze and Jessic Ngankam due to injuries, but goalkeeper Kauã Santos and forward Jonathan Burkardt are expected to return.
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