Bayer Leverkusen are thriving under Kasper Hjulmand after a turbulent summer as they host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Bayer Leverkusen are living a surprising resurgence under coach Kasper Hjulmand, turning a rebuilding year into a genuine title‑race contender.
After the 2023‑24 double triumph, the club endured a chaotic summer, losing Xabi Alonso, key players like Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka, and even Erik ten Hag’s brief, ill‑fated stint.
Now, with seven wins and one draw from nine league games, Hjulmand’s side have only two losses in 15 total matches, both to European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Paris Saint‑Germain.
The latest proof of their revival was a 2‑0 Champions League triumph at Manchester City, where Guardiola rotated ten players and Leverkusen fielded a depleted squad with seven teenagers on the bench.
Hjulmand highlighted the rebuild: “We’re building a new team here. We have a vision and we’re on the right track. We’ve got great potential. We can still get better. Wins like that one against City are fuel for our development.”
Borussia Dortmund, normally the second force in Germany, have been outshone by Leverkusen recently. While Dortmund recorded a 4‑0 home win over Villarreal in midweek, they’ve struggled against elite opposition, losing to Bayern and City and drawing with Juventus, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart.
The two sides meet on Saturday at the BayArena, then clash again three days later in the German Cup last‑16 in Dortmund. This double‑header gives Leverkusen a chance to assert dominance and test their new identity against a traditional rival.
Leverkusen sit in a strong position behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich, staking a claim as “the best of the rest” in the Bundesliga.
