Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Stuttgart when they travel to the Volksparkstadion for Tuesday’s meeting with Hamburger SV.
Hamburg
Hamburg are sitting in 13th place after mustering 16 points from as many games, leaving them four points clear of danger ahead of the midweek round of fixtures. HSV will go into Wednesday’s contest on the back of a three-game winless run, which began with a 4-1 away loss to Hoffenheim. They then rounded off 2025 with a 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, before they were beaten 2-1 by Freiburg in their first outing of the new year.
Luka Vušković broke the deadlock at the Europa-Park Stadion, before Daniel Elfadli gave away a penalty that resulted in his second yellow. Vincenzo Grifo netted the subsequent spot-kick, and then Igor Matanović scored an 83rd-minute winner to condemn HSV to a fourth consecutive away defeat.
With that in mind, Merlin Polzin’s side will be looking forward to returning to the Volksparkstadion, where they have avoided defeat in their last four Bundesliga outings. In fact, all four of their league victories this season have taken place on home turf.
Team News
The hosts are unable to call upon the injured duo of Yussuf Poulsen and Warmed Omari. Meanwhile, Daniel Elfadli will serve a one-match ban after being sent off at the weekend.
Predicted lineups: Fernandes; Capaldo, Vuškovic, Torunarigha; Gocholeishvili, Lokonga, Remberg, Muheim; Vieira, Dompé, Downs
Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen went into the winter break in high spirits after wrapping up 2025 with back-to-back victories against Köln and Stuttgart. However, they were unable to pick up from where they left off, as they slumped to a heavy 4-1 defeat in Saturday’s home clash against Stuttgart, shipping four goals in a disastrous first period at the BayArena. As a result, Leverkusen are sitting in fourth spot and just above fifth-placed Stuttgart on goal difference.
Die Werkself may fancy their chances of producing a positive response in their first meeting with Hamburg since claiming a 2-1 away victory in February 2018. Kasper Hjulmand’s side have won five of their previous six competitive away games, keeping clean sheets in three of those victories.
Their overall away record in the Bundesliga reads four wins, one draw and two defeats in seven road trips. Leverkusen had made a habit of producing their best attacking work in the first period, having scored 11 of their 15 away league games before the break.
Team News
Leverkusen are without the services of Exequiel Palacios and Axel Tape. Meanwhile, Christian Kofane and Ibrahim Maza are unlikely to be involved following their recent exertions at the Africa Cup of Nations. Forward Eliesse Ben Seghir is still at the tournament, preparing for Morocco’s semi-final against Nigeria.
Predicted lineup: Flekken; Andrich, Badé, Quanah; Arthur, Fernández, García, Greek; Tillman, Poku; Schick
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