Bayer Leverkusen should look at their action-packed schedule as a "privilege" to be a part of, so says new head coach Kasper Hjulmand. 

Leverkusen return to Bundesliga action this Sunday against Borussia Monchengladbach, hoping to build on their late heroics in the Champions League in midweek. 

Hjulmand's side opened their European campaign with a 2-2 draw against Copenhagen, with Pantelis Hatzidiakos' own-goal salvaging a point in second-half stoppage time. 

It marks the start of a busy period for Leverkusen, who will have to juggle their domestic responsibilities with European commitments, along with the DFB-Pokal. 

"It's a privilege to play all these matches," Hjulmand said in response to a question about the packed schedule.

"And we have five substitutions. So there's no excuses. We will be ready on Sunday to play a very good match.

"We have experienced [if not young] players who have done it before."

The Leverkusen boss was full of praise for Alex Grimaldo, who netted a stunning 82nd-minute free-kick in the Champions League to bring his side level for the first time. 

And with captain Robert Andrich suspended this weekend, Hjulmand confirmed that the Spaniard will wear the captain's armband against Gladbach. 

"I just had a meeting with the team leadership council, and Grimaldo will continue to serve as the captain," Hjulmand said.

"I've studied the players, but I have to get to know the players and their personalities in order to get a sense of how they lead.  

"As I said last week, leadership is not a 'one-man-band'. It's a team effort. The strength of leadership must come from more than one person.

"It must come from a group of players prepared to take responsibility who want to help the team and other players grow."

However, Hjulmand does have a problem in midfield, with Andrich and Exequiel Fernandez both suspended and Exequiel Palacios out injured. 

"We have other players who can play there," Hjulmand said. "Malik [Tillman] can play there. Axel [Tape] can play there. [Lucas] Vasquez can also play there in midfield.

"A player like 'Ibo' [Maza] came from Hertha. He's played in a three-man midfield. He's also played central in a game for us.

"I think we have possibilities to fill out the position with different players with different characteristics. We have good options."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bayer Leverkusen – Patrik Schick 

In 2025, no other player has exceeded his expected goals (xG) in the Bundesliga as significantly as Leverkusen's Patrik Schick (+5.2, 15 goals at 9.8 xG).

He has scored once each in five of his six Bundesliga matches against Gladbach – only against Eintracht Frankfurt has he scored in as many different top-flight matches.

Borussia Monchengladbach – Kevin Stoger

For only the second time, Gladbach have failed to score in the first three games of the Bundesliga season. The only previous such case was in the 1991-92 season, and they will need Stoger's impact from the off. 

Stoger was on the bench during their 4-0 defeat to Werder Bremen, and after being introduced in the 74th minute, created more chances (three) than any of his team-mates. 

MATCH PREDICTION: BAYER LEVERKUSEN WIN

Leverkusen celebrated their first Bundesliga victory since the end of April with a 3-1 win over Eintracht last matchday, ending a drought of five top-flight games without a win (D3 L2). The last time the Werkself managed two consecutive home wins was between November 2024 and February 2025 (W6).

And it would be difficult to back against them this weekend, as Gladbach are winless in 11 Bundesliga matches against Leverkusen (D2 L9), a longer run than against any other current Bundesliga club. However, their only two points in this period came in away games at the BayArena.

However, this weekend's visitors are in poor form. They are winless in 10 league matches (D3 L7) – the longest current streak in the league and the longest stretch for Gladbach since March 2007 to August 2008, when they failed to win in 11 consecutive Bundesliga games (D2 L9).

Their poor run of form saw Gerardo Seoane dismissed, having averaged just 1.1 points per Bundesliga game (71 matches) – making him the poorest performing Gladbach coach in that metric in the top-flight since Michael Frontzeck (1.0) from 2009 to 2011, with Eugen Polanski now in interim charge. 

In the opposite dugout, Hjulmand became the fifth Danish head coach to start his tenure in the Bundesliga with a win – the last to do so was Bo Henriksen with Mainz against Augsburg in February 2024 (1-0 win).

The last Leverkusen coach to take four points from his first two Bundesliga matches was Seoane in 2021, and the last to start with two wins (excluding interim coaches) was Roger Schmidt in 2014 (two wins).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Bayer Leverkusen – 57.6%

Draw – 20.9%

Borussia Monchengladbach – 21.5%