Our series of 2015-16 mid-season reviews continues with a look at a Bundesliga powerhouse struggling to hit top gear in the form of Bayer Leverkusen.
The story so far
So far, Leverkusen has not enjoyed the greatest success this season. The Bundesliga campaign commenced on the 15th of August, where they started in great fashion with a 2-1 victory over Hoffenheim. Unfortunately for Leverkusen though, proceedings did not flow the way Roger Schmidt would have imagined. After the opening day, the team went on to lose six of the next 16 outings. In 2014-15, the German side lost just seven times in the whole season, so obviously that record is in serious jeopardy. Leverkusen sit fifth on the table at the halfway line.
Bayer’s best streak this time around is a measly two wins in-a-row and consistency has been significantly scarce. They failed to muster much success against the current top sides, suffering 3-0 defeats to the top two forces in to forms of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, while falling 2-1 to third placed Hertha Berlin and seventh placed Vfl Wolfsburg. However, in recent weeks the BayArena outfit humiliated fourth placed Borussia Monchengladbach 5-0, which was complimented by a 1-0 victory over Ingolstadt last weekend.
The manager
Roger Schmidt has now been at the Leverkusen helm for a season-and-a-half, and despite the present slump, the former engineer has implemented great changes at the German club. The 48-year-old completed some fantastic business in the transfer window, bringing in the likes of Javier Hernandez, Kevin Kampl and Admir Mehmedi – three players who have been brilliant for the team. Schmidt has not been afraid to invest some of his trust in youth, in particular Jonathan Tah, a 19-year-old centre-back who has played every minute in all competitions.
The Leverkusen boss has often expressed how he feels, notably after dismal results. In the 1-1 draw against BATE Borisov, he could not contain his frustration and UEFA.com reported him to have said the following:
“It’s very annoying that we didn’t win, the early BATE goal threw us out of rhythm. After that we needed half an hour to come back into the match. Afterwards we had enough chances to win the match, which would have been well deserved. They just had one shot and that was their goal. That’s real pity.”
It was the same case in the 1-1 draw with Barcelona that sawBayer eliminated from the Champions League. Schmidt was left furious due after his side rued a significant number of chances on an absolute platter.
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Standout player
Javier Hernandez has simply been exceptional and has easily been Leverkusen’s best this season. His stats are quite remarkable, so far recording 19 goals in 22 appearances for his new side. In domestic meetings, the ‘Little Pea’ has netted 11 times in 14 appearances, starting 12 of those games. The stats are even sweeter when you realise he has nine in his last seven domestic outings. Hernandez has scored in 12 of his last 14 cameos in all competitions, with a return of 17 goals. The Mexican scored just twice in his first eight clashes, outstanding turn around.
Right now Chicharito is one of the top strikers in the world, in the form of his life and deserved of this time in the limelight. The 27-year-old has been such a pleasure to watch in the Bundesliga, but his incredible form should not arrive as a surprise. Hernandez has always been a talented player, but unfortunately he did not get the chance to showcase it at Manchester United. Now he is finally at a club that understands him and the striker is reaping the rewards with an abundance of match time.
Javier Hernandez has been named Bundesliga Player of the Month for the second month running (November & December). pic.twitter.com/iX7XwNmp16
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) December 30, 2015
Second-half prediction
Leverkusen sit fifth during the Christmas break with 27 points – eight wins, three draws and six defeats. A realistic prediction is that Schmidt’s men will conclude the season with 58 points – 17 wins, seven draws and ten defeats, in an agonisingly close race for fourth spot. In the season prior, Leverkusen finished with 61 points, 12 points clear of fifth place. In the Europa league they must defeat Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon to make it into the Quarter-finals.
Chicharito will continue to relish up front and easily reach 20 domestic goals. Two other stars, in the form of Karim Bellarabi and Hakan Calhanoglu will lift their game and engineer better performances in the latter half of 2015-16. Both players have mustered two goals and three assists – quite underwhelming in contrast to their last season campaigns.
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