Copenhagen vs Leverkusen Prediction for 19 September 2025 - Football

🔊 Can Bayer's newly appointed coach secure his first victory on home soil as the manager of a German team? On Thursday evening, at Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, who have returned to the Champions League after a year's absence, will host Bayer Leverkusen. The team is now led by former Denmark national team coach Kasper Hjulmand, who took charge on September 8. We share our analysis and insights on this intriguing clash in our prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 The teams faced each other during the 2014/15 Champions League qualifiers. Back then, Bayer proved superior in both legs, winning 3-2 in Copenhagen and 4-0 in Leverkusen.

Copenhagen Team Overview

⚪ After a year-long absence, the "Lions" have returned to Europe's premier club competition. Last season, Copenhagen fell short in the Danish Superliga, finishing second and earning a spot in the Champions League qualifiers. In the quarterfinals, the Danes confidently defeated Kosovo's Drita (2-0, 1-0), in the semifinals they overcame Sweden's Malmö (0-0, 5-0), and in the final round, they outperformed Basel (1-1, 2-0). This secured Jakob Neestrup's team a spot in the main stage of the tournament.

🏆 Alongside Bayer, Copenhagen will face Qarabag, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham, Kairat, Villarreal, Napoli, and Barcelona in their group. The Danes are aware that breaking into the top 8 will be extremely challenging, so their primary goal is to finish in the top 24 and advance to the Round of 16 playoffs. In the Superliga, after 8 rounds, Copenhagen are in second place, trailing the leader by just one point.

Bayer Leverkusen Team Overview

🔴 Last season's Bundesliga runners-up have had a rocky start to the new campaign. After two matches, where the "Pharmacists" managed to secure just one point, the management parted ways with Erik ten Hag, who had been at the helm for roughly two months. Ahead of the third round against Eintracht (3-1), Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand took charge. His debut was a success as Bayer clinched their first win of the season.

🏆 In last season's Champions League, Leverkusen were knocked out in the Round of 16 by Bayern Munich (0-2, 0-3). This year, alongside Copenhagen, their group stage opponents include PSV, PSG, Benfica, Manchester City, Newcastle, Olympiacos, and Villarreal. The team's minimum goal is to advance to the knockout stages.

Latest news

Copenhagen

🎙 Interim coach Stefan Madsen, after the 2-1 defeat to Brøndby in the latest Superliga round, stated: "It was an unsatisfactory performance. For most of the match, our play was weaker than it should have been. Little went right, too much went wrong. We lacked cohesion, speed, and intensity. We'll have to go back home and analyze everything before we face Bayer."

❌ Head coach Jacob Neestrup missed the last game due to illness but is expected to return for the match against Bayer. Oliver Høyer, Magnus Mattsson, and Jonathan Moalem continue their recovery from injuries.

Bayer Leverkusen

🎙 Kasper Hjulmand after his debut victory: "What a game! A lot happened in this match, but the main thing is we secured three points. I congratulated the guys, noting that we barely allowed the opponent to create chances, played with great energy, and worked hard defensively. Of course, there are areas for improvement, but these three points are very important for us."

❌ Central midfielder Exequiel Palacios is sidelined until the start of next year due to an adductor muscle injury. Right-back Arthur De Matos Soares might miss the match in Denmark due to illness.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The main referee will be Azerbaijani Aliyar Aghayev, who has averaged 4.3 yellow cards over his last 10 matches. In the Superliga, Copenhagen have received only 9 cautions across 8 rounds (0.9 per game). Meanwhile, Bayer have already picked up 6 yellows in just three Bundesliga matches. Both teams frequently commit fouls, and Aghayev tends to call around 24 fouls per match. Thus, betting on a total of more than 3 yellow cards seems justified.

⚽ Goal Prediction

Copenhagen have scored in 8 consecutive matches, including their Champions League qualifiers. Bayer have struggled defensively at the start of the season, conceding 7 goals in three games. With the support of their home crowd, the Danish side will aim to play attacking football, but Bayer's potent offense is sure to seize their opportunities. The optimal bet is both teams to score (yes), which has hit in 6 of Bayer's last 7 matches.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Copenhagen have taken 37 corners in 8 Superliga matches, averaging 4.6 per game. Bayer have delivered 17 corners across three Bundesliga rounds, averaging 5.7. We recommend betting on over 7.5 total corners, a bet that has come through in 6 of Copenhagen's last 7 home matches and in 6 consecutive Champions League fixtures for the club.

This season, Copenhagen have only suffered two defeats, both to direct rivals in the Superliga, highlighting their psychological struggles against tougher opponents. Leverkusen, despite a challenging start, clearly outclass any Danish club in terms of squad depth and experience.

Furthermore, Kasper Hjulmand is well-versed in Danish football and will be prepared for the clash at "Parken". The hosts are likely to find the net, but probably not more than once. We predict Copenhagen's individual total under 1.5 goals and a hard-fought victory for Leverkusen – 2-1.