Leverkusen head to Copenhagen with renewed energy under Hjulmand, while the hosts look to bounce back from a rare domestic defeat.

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What are the key match facts for Copenhagen v Leverkusen?

• Leverkusen had picked up a single point from their opening two games before opting to replace Ten Hag with Kasper Hjulmand.

• Hjulmand’s debut brought a 3-1 win over Frankfurt, with Grimaldo scoring twice from free-kicks despite Leverkusen going down to 10 men, and eventually nine men.

• Copenhagen sit 2nd in the league with 16 points from eight games, but lost 2-1 to Brøndby last time out.

🔵 How Are Copenhagen Performing in the League?

Copenhagen have picked up 16 points from their first eight games - a respectable figure and one which suffices to put them second from top.

They were beaten by Brøndby 2-1 last weekend, putting an end to their six-match unbeaten run, and to be frank, there can be few complaints as to the nature of their defeat. Despite dominating 57% of possession, FCK created a mere 0.51xG while conceding 2.01, although that does include a penalty.

This was pretty atypical of Copenhagen, who boast the league’s second best goalscoring record, and have conceded fewer goals than all but two other teams.

Continental success will definitely be on the back of Jacob Neestrup’s mind this season, as he aims to build on the three wins they managed across 10 Conference League matches last season.

🔴 Have Leverkusen Improved After Sacking Erik Ten Hag?

It’s not easy to dissect Leverkusen’s form, given the managerial turmoil they’ve immersed themselves in, following the sacking of Eric Ten Hag after just two league games.

Leverkusen had picked up a single point under the Dutch coach, losing to Hoffenheim in their opener, before blowing a 3-1 lead against 10-man Werder Bremen to draw 3-3. 

What soon followed was quite remarkable, as reports came out of the club (via BILD) describing how he "failed to convey any ideas", had “no game plan”, and suggesting that Leverkusen had "perhaps waited too long" to sack Ten Hag.

Coincidence or otherwise, Leverkusen experienced an immediate rejuvenation following his departure, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 despite Andrich seeing red in the 61st minute.

Only time will tell if they can keep this up under Kasper Hjulmand, who's known for his tactical versatility, but the early signs are good.

📊 How Do Copenhagen & Leverkusen Compare?

The last meeting between these sides came back in the 2014 Champions League qualification play-off, with both chasing a place in Europe’s premier competition.

Leverkusen edged the first leg 3-2 in Denmark, a match that marked Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s debut at just 20 years old. Back in Germany, they made no mistake, cruising to a 4-0 win.

A 22-year-old Heung-Min Son opened the scoring, before Çalhanoğlu netted his first goal for the club to double their lead and seal the tie in style.

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.