Bundesliga
Why Leverkusen will beat PSV
After an up-and-down season so far, unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand can be cautiously optimistic of inspiring the side to a UEFA Champions League home win over PSV Eindhoven on the second matchday of the league phase.
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It may still be a long way off the jaw-dropping levels of the 51-match unbeaten run that took Leverkusen to a league and cup double in 2023/24, but Kasper Hjulmand's unbeaten start as Leverkusen coach has instilled a much-needed sense of confidence.
A gutsy 2-1 win at a battling St. Pauli side at the weekend was the fourth match without defeat since the Dane took charge earlier in September (W2, D2). A win in his first Champions League home match would be the next logical step.
Among all the many changes at Leverkusen, one thing the club and the fans can draw on is the love for a big European night that has flourished in the past two years.
The Werkself won five out of six home encounters on the way to the 2024 UEFA Europa League final, and followed that up with a flawless record in Leverkusen in last season's Champions League group stage - four wins in four and not a single goal conceded.
The magic of a European night at the BayArena should help new-look Leverkusen to get the job done against PSV.
Watch: Hjulmand's hopes for Bayer Leverkusen
On the subject of that new look, Leverkusen's long list of new signings are starting to find their feet.
Twenty-one-year-old Dutch forward Ernest Poku came off the bench to score the winner at St. Pauli, while Loïc Badé was a defensive rock as the opponents pushed for an equaliser late on.
There's also a very familiar face in US international Malik Tillman, who stared at PSV across the last two seasons and already has two goals in four Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen.
Watch: Malik Tillman's first goal for Leverkusen
While the youngsters are settling in, the club's experienced hands are stepping up to aid the transition, with defender Edmond Tapsoba scoring a rare goal at St. Pauli.
Alejandro Grimaldo also gained two assists in Hamburg to add to the three trademark free-kicks he has landed so far this season, including one in the 2-2 draw in Copenhagen on the opening Champions League matchday.
Watch: Grimaldo's free-kick goals in the Bundesliga
With PSV starting the Champions League with a 1-3 defeat at home to Union Saint-Gilloise and having dropped a handful of points domestically, the pressure will be on them to get a result from their short trip over the border.
However, rejuvenated Leverkusen's mix of youthful verve and experienced class can see them to a big win.