´We´re not panicking´ – Shell-shocked Leverkusen eye a response against HSV

Kaspar Hjulmand says nobody at Bayer Leverkusen is panicking following their chastening 4-1 defeat to Stuttgart, with Tuesday’s trip to Hamburg on the horizon.

Leverkusen shipped four goals in the first half on Saturday, with Jamie Leweling scoring twice and Deniz Undav getting three goal involvements (two goals, two assists).

It was Leverkusen’s heaviest defeat since they were routed 7-2 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in October, and a league-high 36 goals have now been scored in the first half of their Bundesliga matches this season.

Leverkusen are still fourth in the Bundesliga but are only ahead of fifth-placed Stuttgart on goal difference, with Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt also within three points of them as the battle for European qualification heats up.

Their next opponents, HSV, meanwhile, are 13th in the table and four points clear of the relegation play-off spot.

“We’re not panicking,” Hjulmand said at Monday’s pre-match press conference. “Sometimes there are simply setbacks, that’s all part of it.

“We remain calm, are optimistic and feel good. The players know what to do.

“Of course, we’ve analysed the Stuttgart game and looked at our shape in one-v-ones and duels. We know we absolutely have to do better against HSV. That’s our full focus now.”

Leverkusen could have Christian Kofane and Ibrahim Maza available after Cameroon and Algeria were both eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations, but Hjulmand will check on their conditions ahead of the game.

“We have to see how they feel. I know how much pressure national teams are under at a tournament like this,” the former Denmark boss said.

“It’s important for me to talk to them and see them on the pitch to assess how ready they are.”

HSV have 16 points after 16 matchdays, one more than they had at the same stage of their last Bundesliga season in 2017-18 (15).

Only once in their last five Bundesliga campaigns have HSV collected more points at this stage of the competition – winning 22 points from 16 games in 2015-16.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hamburger SV – Luka Vuskovic

Vuskovic scored HSV’s first goal from a corner in the 2025-26 Bundesliga during Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Freiburg, as they became the final team in the German top-flight to do so this season.

The 18-year-old is the second-youngest player in this Bundesliga campaign with at least three goals, behind Bayern Munich star Lennart Karl (17 years old).

3 – At 18 years and 320 days, Luka Vuskovic scored his 3rd Bundesliga goal; only Heung-Min Son (18 years, 135 days) was younger when he did so for Hamburger SV. Bosskovic. pic.twitter.com/BQXfJyGcwZ

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) January 10, 2026

Bayer Leverkusen – Alejandro Grimaldo

Grimaldo matched his goal involvement tally from the entire previous Bundesliga season (two goals, seven assists) last weekend, registering his ninth Bundesliga goal contribution of the season (five goals, four assists).

The left-back is also the Werkself’s leader for goal involvements across all competitions this season (15 – 10 goals, five assists), ahead of Patrik Schick (11 goal contributions).

MATCH PREDICTION – BAYER LEVERKUSEN WIN

HSV have lost four of their last five Bundesliga matches against Leverkusen (W1), with their only win during this period being a 1-0 home victory under Markus Gisdol in 2017.

In the last seven encounters between the two sides since 2015, HSV have scored only three goals in total, while Leverkusen have scored 13.

Since a 2-1 loss to Arminia Bielefeld in 2021, Leverkusen have not lost any of their last 17 Bundesliga matches against promoted teams (W13 D4) – a club-record run.

Across the division, only RB Leipzig are on a longer current unbeaten run against promoted sides (38 games).

Hamburg have collected 14 of their 16 Bundesliga points this season in home games and are unbeaten in their last four matches at the Volksparkstadion (W2 D2).

But Leverkusen have won four of their six away Bundesliga matches under Hjulmand (L2). They have averaged two points per away game (12 in six) since Hjulmand’s appointment – only Bayern have more since then (2.6, 13 points in five away games).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Hamburger SV – 30.2%

Bayer Leverkusen – 44.6%

Draw – 25.2%