Bayer Leverkusen’s start to the 2015-16 season has been somewhat of an endurance-testing roller coaster ride of various ups and downs.
It has been a poor start, but with 26 domestic matches remaining the BayArena faithful should have nothing to fear. Leverkusen have a talented squad that is more than capable of breaking into the top four for by the campaign’s end. If they are successful in achieving this, it will the sixth top four finish in the last seven seasons. However, there are a few developed concerns that need addressing beforehand.
Consistency is a must
The team must form a pattern of consistency by earning positive results on a regular basis, something which so far this season has been hard to come by. Four wins, one draw and three losses is far from the start Roger Schmidt would have envisioned.
Leverkusen commenced 2015-16 in good fashion, victorious in their first two matches, but following the positive start was three straight defeats, one of those a home loss at the hands of back-to-back promotion kings Darmstadt. They responded well with another pair of victories against Mainz 05 and Werder Bremen and it appeared as if things were starting to get back on track. But that was not entirely the case, as in the most recent fixture, Leverkusen failed to collect the three points they should have against a struggling Augsburg at the BayArena, despite being the superior side in every aspect of the match.
Worst Conversion rate in the Bundesliga
Roger Schmidt’s men are currently guilty of recording the worst conversion rate in the competition, it is a positive in the sense that Leverkusen are constantly threatening their opponent’s goal, but it is an issue that needs solving.
This season, Leverkusen have constructed 127 shots on goal, 45 of those on target bringing a return of just eight goals. It is the third most attempts recorded in the Bundesliga, two less than Borussia Dortmund and 25 beneath table-toppers Bayern Munich. Turkish international Hakan Calhanoglu has been the most influential player in an attacking sense, generating 25 shots with 11 being on target, comfortably more than any of his teammates.
Pep Guardiola and his Bayern side have registered 152 shots, with a return of 70 on target and 28 goals. The other Bundesliga giant in Dortmund has produced 129 attemps, resulting in 49 shots on target and 22 goals, both very impressive returns. Excluding Bayern and Dortmund, Schalke 04 and VfL Wolfsburg are Leverkusen’s largest top four rivals. Schalke have composed 113 shots, 40 on target and 10 goals for their efforts. The Wolves have tried their luck at goal on 103 occasions, eventuating in 35 shots on target and 10 goals. All stats are credited to ESPN.
Leverkusen are responsible for the worst conversion rate among all the German hopefuls, but the players have engineered a massive amount of chances. The BayArena outfit can only improve and it is surely just a matter of time until it becomes goals galore at Leverkusen.
Great results are required against their biggest four competitors
It goes without saying it is a requisite that Leverkusen secure results against the lower table sides, but there should also be a focus on gaining results against top four rivals to edge them out for a Champions League spot. Leverkusen are still yet to strut their stuff against Schalke and Wolfsburg, but have already visited the top two sides, Bayern and Dortmund, with both matches concluding in 3-0 defeats.
Leverkusen will visit Wolfsburg on the first of November and wrap -up the month by hosting Schalke on the 30th. It would be fitting to begin the month on a positive note and to close it on even better terms.
It is early days, but Schalke sit third with five wins on the board and are just one point behind Dortmund. However, they still need to play Bayern and Dortmund. Wolfsburg are ninth with 12 points and like Leverkusen, have not lived up to expectations.
With a home meeting still to come against both Bayern and Dortmund, there is an opportunity for Schmidt’s men to steal valuable points from arguably the two best sides. It seems Bayern are already emerging as 2015-16 Bundesliga winners, establishing their title credentials by winning eight from eight and making headway on their closest title rival Dortmund, now standing seven points clear.
The matchdays against Wolfsburg, Schalke and Dortmund will prove to be the most important matches for Leverkusen, who are four points adrift off a revitalised BVB, despite a dismal start to the 2015-16 domestic campaign.
[interaction id=”561d1af641d4754d144b9069″]
Admir Mehmedi needs to feature more
The Swiss international is an exceptional talent ready to take the spotlight for Leverkusen, yet he has made eight appearances and only three starts. When on the pitch, Admir Mehmedi is predominantly a centre-forward rather than an out-and-out striker, demonstrating that with one goal, one assist and eight overall attempts so far, with four on target.
Javier Hernandez has started three of the last four league matches and Mehmedi has started just one of the last five. Serving Leverkusen incredibly well with 123 career goals, club legend Stefan Kiessling has started three of the last five matches.
For the benefit of the team, Mehmedi should feature more in order to further develop his game. At 24-years-old, he boasts great potential and is ready to burst onto the scene, which could prove vital to Leverkusen’s top four bid. Judging by the duration of the season so far, the Swiss has proved to be more effective with four shots on target, equivalent to Kiessling in three less starts, both players recording one goal.
Disregarding aerial abilities, Mehmedi offers great all round attributes which include dribbling, through balls, long shots and a strength of keeping the ball, beneficial to holding up the play.
Leverkusen duo Julian Brandt and Kevin Kampl are also trying to nail down a place in Roger Schmidt’s starting XI. Brandt has netted twice in three starts, while Kampl has found the back of the net once in the three matches he has commenced. Clearly there is fierce competition for a spot in the team.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
