Kaspar Hjulmand says no one at Bayer Leverkusen is panicking following their chastening 4-1 defeat to Stuttgart, with Tuesday’s journey to Hamburg on the horizon.
Leverkusen shipped 4 targets within the first half on Saturday, with Jamie Leweling scoring twice and Deniz Undav getting three objective involvements (two targets, two assists).
It was Leverkusen’s heaviest defeat since they had been routed 7-2 by Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League in October, and a league-high 36 targets have now been scored within the first half of their Bundesliga matches this season.
Leverkusen are nonetheless fourth within the Bundesliga however are solely forward of fifth-placed Stuttgart on objective distinction, with Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt additionally inside three factors of them because the battle for European qualification heats up.
Their subsequent opponents, HSV, in the meantime, are thirteenth within the desk and 4 factors away from the relegation play-off spot.
“We’re not panicking,” Hjulmand stated at Monday’s pre-match press convention. “Generally there are merely setbacks, that’s all a part of it.
“We stay calm, are optimistic and really feel good. The gamers know what to do.
“In fact, we’ve analysed the Stuttgart recreation and checked out our form in one-v-ones and duels. We all know we completely should do higher towards HSV. That’s our full focus now.”
Leverkusen might have Christian Kofane and Ibrahim Maza accessible after Cameroon and Algeria had been each eradicated from the Africa Cup of Nations, however Hjulmand will test on their circumstances forward of the sport.
“Now we have to see how they really feel. I understand how a lot strain nationwide groups are beneath at a event like this,” the previous Denmark boss stated.
“It’s essential for me to speak to them and see them on the pitch to evaluate how prepared they’re.”
HSV have 16 factors after 16 matchdays, another than that they had on the identical stage of their final Bundesliga season in 2017-18 (15).
Solely as soon as of their final 5 Bundesliga campaigns have HSV collected extra factors at this stage of the competitors – profitable 22 factors from 16 video games in 2015-16.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hamburger SV – Luka Vuskovic
Vuskovic scored HSV’s first objective from a nook within the 2025-26 Bundesliga throughout Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Freiburg, as they grew to become the ultimate group within the German top-flight to take action this season.
The 18-year-old is the second-youngest participant on this Bundesliga marketing campaign with not less than three targets, behind Bayern Munich star Lennart Karl (17 years previous).
3 – At 18 years and 320 days, Luka Vuskovic scored his third Bundesliga objective; solely Heung-Min Son (18 years, 135 days) was youthful when he did so for Hamburger SV. Bosskovic. pic.twitter.com/BQXfJyGcwZ
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) January 10, 2026
Bayer Leverkusen – Alejandro Grimaldo
Grimaldo matched his objective involvement tally from the complete earlier Bundesliga season (two targets, seven assists) final weekend, registering his ninth Bundesliga objective contribution of the season (5 targets, 4 assists).
The left-back can also be the Werkself’s chief for objective involvements throughout all competitions this season (15 – 10 targets, 5 assists), forward of Patrik Schick (11 objective contributions).
MATCH PREDICTION – BAYER LEVERKUSEN WIN
HSV have misplaced 4 of their final 5 Bundesliga matches towards Leverkusen (W1), with their solely win throughout this era being a 1-0 house victory beneath Markus Gisdol in 2017.
Within the final seven encounters between the 2 sides since 2015, HSV have scored solely three targets in whole, whereas Leverkusen have scored 13.
Since a 2-1 loss to Arminia Bielefeld in 2021, Leverkusen haven’t misplaced any of their final 17 Bundesliga matches towards promoted groups (W13 D4) – a club-record run.
Throughout the division, solely RB Leipzig are on an extended present unbeaten run towards promoted sides (38 video games).
Hamburg have collected 14 of their 16 Bundesliga factors this season in house video games and are unbeaten of their final 4 matches on the Volksparkstadion (W2 D2).
However Leverkusen have gained 4 of their six away Bundesliga matches beneath Hjulmand (L2). They’ve averaged two factors per away recreation (12 in six) since Hjulmand’s appointment – solely Bayern have extra since then (2.6, 13 factors in 5 away video games).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Hamburger SV – 30.2%
Bayer Leverkusen – 44.6%
Draw – 25.2%
