Leverkusen's new manager, Ten Hag, presses for summer acquisitions to establish a fresh era at the club
Bayer Leverkusen, the German Bundesliga side, are preparing for an exciting new season under the management of Erik ten Hag. The Dutch coach, who previously led Ajax to multiple Eredivisie titles, will make his competitive debut for Leverkusen against Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Ten Hag has welcomed 14 new players to his squad, including Malik Tillman, who joined from PSV Eindhoven in a €35m deal, a joint-club record fee for Leverkusen. Tillman, who made 34 appearances for PSV in the 2024-25 season, scoring 16 goals and registering five assists, is looking forward to playing for Leverkusen and is excited about the upcoming season.
Leverkusen's summer business was not limited to Tillman's arrival. The club also experienced an overhaul to their squad, with Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong joining Liverpool, while Granit Xhaka and Jonathan Tah moved to Sunderland and Bayern Munich, respectively. Jarell Quansah, Loic Bade, and Ernest Poku have also joined Leverkusen, while Claudio Echeverri was signed on loan from Manchester City.
Leverkusen are aiming to regain the Bundesliga crown they lost to Bayern Munich last season. One player who could play a crucial role in their quest is Patrik Schick. The Czech international had the best difference in goals to expected goals (xG) in Europe's five major leagues, scoring 21 goals at 12.7 xG. Schick also has a strong record against Hoffenheim, having scored the joint-most goals against them (six) in the top-flight.
However, Leverkusen are winless in their last three Bundesliga matches (D2, L1), and Hoffenheim are also without a win in five (D2, L3). Andrej Kramaric, Hoffenheim's biggest attacking threat last season, registered 11 goals and nine assists in 32 Bundesliga matches. Kramaric also scored four goals across two World Cup qualifiers for Croatia and provided an assist in Hoffenheim's 4-0 DFB Pokal win over Rostock.
The Opta win probability for the match is Bayer Leverkusen - 59.9%, Draw - 20.1%, Hoffenheim - 20.0%. As Ten Hag prepares for his first Bundesliga game as a coach, he will be hoping to guide Leverkusen to a winning start and set the tone for a successful season.
During Ten Hag's tenure at Manchester United, the Red Devils recorded the most direct attacks in the league (222, an average of 2.6 per game). If Leverkusen can maintain this attacking intensity, they could pose a serious threat to Bayern Munich's dominance in the Bundesliga.
As the new season approaches, fans are eager to see how Ten Hag's Leverkusen will perform. With a strong squad and a coach with a proven track record, expectations are high for the club. The Bundesliga opener against Hoffenheim promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams eager to start the season on a high note.
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