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Bayer Leverkusen – Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt’s perfect record will face its first test on Friday evening at the BayArena against Bayer Leverkusen. While SGE sits in second place in the table with six points from two games, Werkself is already battling rumors of a crisis after earning just one point from two games. Kasper Hjulmand, who was only presented on Monday as the successor to Erik ten Hag, who was dismissed after two match days, will make his Bundesliga debut against an opponent who has regularly caused Leverkusen problems in the recent past, although the statistics speak for themselves: Bayer has won all of the last five encounters, with Frankfurt failing to secure a single victory.
Eintracht travels to Leverkusen with confidence. Ritsu Doan, who returned early from the Japanese national team, will strengthen Dino Toppmöller’s team after already contributing two goals and an assist in the 3-1 win against Hoffenheim. Frankfurt has positioned itself as a serious contender for the Champions League spots with its two opening wins. For Hjulmand’s Leverkusen, it will depend on whether the new momentum is enough to shake off the uncertainty after squandering a 3-0 lead in Bremen. Despite their current problems, the bookmakers see the Werkself as slight favorites, which shows that there is still confidence in the quality of the squad.
- Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
- Date and time: September 12, 2025, 8:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 3)
Leverkusen form & record check
Bayer Leverkusen is facing an early key game of the season. After only one point from the first two Bundesliga games, there is already considerable pressure to act. New coach Kasper Hjulmand takes over a team that has not yet found its identity. Recent performances have clearly revealed the team’s problems. In the 1-2 defeat to Hoffenheim in their opening game, the team looked uninspired and vulnerable defensively. The 3-3 draw in Bremen was symptomatic of their current form. Despite taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Schick and Tillman, Leverkusen conceded the equalizer in stoppage time.
The statistically striking flood of goals in the last five games highlights the double-edged situation. All games ended with over 2.5 goals, with the Werkself scoring at least one goal in each game. This offensive power will have to remain an important building block under Hjulmand, even if the defense needs to be stabilized. The change of coach after only two match days underlines the high expectations. Erik ten Hag was unable to get through to the team, and now the experienced Dane is expected to turn things around. With only one point, Leverkusen is already five points behind Frankfurt. The 12th place in the table is by no means in line with the ambitions of the double winner finalist. Personnel problems further exacerbate the situation. Players such as Hofmann and Terrier are unavailable due to a lack of Champions League eligibility.
Kasper Hjulmand is likely to opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation for his debut, with which he hopes to stabilize the team after the initial turmoil under Erik ten Hag. Flekken will be in goal, with a back four of Tape, Quansah, Tapsoba, and Grimaldo in front of him. Andrich and Aleix García should occupy the central midfield, while Tella, Tillman, and the young Kofane could play in the attacking trio. Schick will probably lead the line. However, there are problems with the Champions League squad: Terrier, Hofmann, and Belocian are unavailable due to lack of registration.
Frankfurt Form & Record Check
Eintracht Frankfurt is in impressive form at the start of the new season. With six points from two Bundesliga games, SGE is level on points with Bayern Munich at the top of the table, and the goal difference of +5 speaks for itself. Hesse won both games, even though they have not yet played a home game.
The 4-1 opening win against Werder Bremen was already a statement, but the 3-1 win in Hoffenheim underlined the new quality of this team. New signing Doan shone with two goals and an assist, while Uzun’s goal underlined the versatility of the offense. These four wins in a row, including the 5-1 victory over FV Engers in the cup, show a team that has internalized its principles. Toppmöller’s team impresses with its efficiency in both halves. In each of their last games, Frankfurt have scored both before and after the break, a sign of consistent performance over 90 minutes. The statistics also reveal a remarkable offensive power: all games ended with over 3.5 goals.
In terms of personnel, Frankfurt currently has to do without Götze and Burkardt, with the latter’s market value of €35 million making his absence particularly painful. However, Doan’s early return from the Japanese national team shows that the club has clearly defined its priorities. In goal, Zetterer remains the number one for the time being, while Santos is fighting for his comeback after his cruciate ligament injury.
Dino Toppmöller is expected to field his tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 formation, but personnel concerns cannot be dismissed. With Burkardt, Götze, and Kauã Santos out, three important options are unavailable, which noticeably limits the coach’s flexibility. In goal, Zetterer remains the first choice after his solid performances against Bremen and Hoffenheim. The offense is likely to be built around Wahi as the striker, flanked by Doan, who has returned early from the Japanese national team, and the talented Bahoya. Can Uzun could pull the strings behind them. Skhiri and Larsson are likely to form the familiar duo in central midfield, while the back four could consist of Kristensen, Collins, Koch, and Theate.
H2H Leverkusen – Frankfurt Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The record between these two teams could hardly be clearer. Leverkusen has won all five direct duels since 2023, with the Werkself boasting an impressive goal difference of 14:4. The most recent encounter in March 2025 ended in a clear 4:1 away win for Bayer in Frankfurt. Particularly noteworthy is their dominance in the first half. Leverkusen led at halftime in four of the five encounters, while Frankfurt has never taken the lead in that period. The Eagles conceded at least one goal in each of the first halves.
There is also a clear gap in terms of offense. While Bayer scored in both the first and second halves in all five games, Frankfurt failed to score in the first half four times. Four of the five matches produced over 2.5 goals, which speaks for fast-paced encounters. Leverkusen’s biggest win came in May 2024 with a 5-1 victory in Frankfurt. The 3-0 win at the BayArena in December 2023 also underlined the Werkself’s superiority in this fixture. Frankfurt are still waiting for their first point against Bayer in over two years.
Frankfurt comes to Leverkusen with a flawless record of four wins, with each game producing at least three goals and Doan already collecting three points. Despite only one point from two games, the betting market sees Leverkusen as slight favorites at 2.3, while our assessment gives the visitors more chances at 2.8.
The over 2.5 goals seems particularly attractive, as both teams have exceeded this line in all of their games so far this season. Leverkusen has conceded eight goals in its last three Bundesliga games, while Frankfurt under Toppmöller consistently provides spectacle. The recommendation for over 3.5 goals at 2.25 takes into account that their most recent encounter eleven days ago ended 3-3 and that Hjulmand’s new pressing structure could create space for Doan’s pace and Uzun’s creativity. The win tip for Frankfurt capitalizes on their momentum against a host in transition, missing key creative players such as Hofmann and Terrier.
