Bayer Leverkusen – Eintracht Frankfurt: New Manager Bounce? (3-1)

Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt have endured contrasting starts to the season. Although the visitors were expected to win the match with momentum on their side, Leverkusen left with all three points. In the end, a stunning brace from Alejandro Grimaldo and a composed spot kick from Patrick Schick, coupled with a stern defensive performance, sealed Kasper Hjulmand’s first win as manager.

Tactical analysis and match report by Fahd Ahmed.

Two teams with very contrasting starts to the season faced each other on Friday night, with one side already having a lot to prove. Just two games into the season, Bayer Leverkusen have experienced a rough transition period after the Xabi Alonso era. Erik ten Hag was sacked after two winless league games. The first was a 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim, where they were outclassed throughout the tie, and the other was a dramatic 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen – a match where they led 3-1 at one point with a man advantage.

However, it seemingly was not the results that did the damage, but the lack of progress and connection felt behind the scenes. The decision-makers at Leverkusen acted promptly and pulled the plug. The appointed replacement was Kasper Hjulmand, who is most known for his four-year stint with the Denmark national team that achieved a run to the semi-final in Euro 2020, only losing out narrowly to England. Leverkusen supporters would have been hoping that Hjulmand could bring the same standard of defensive solidity and grit to a side that leaked five goals in the opening . . .