Bayer Leverkusen Faces Copenhagen in Champions League Opener

Copenhagen, Denmark – Bayer Leverkusen is set to begin its UEFA Champions League campaign against Copenhagen on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 12:45 p.m. ET. New manager Kasper Hjulmand aims to build on his early success after taking over for Erik ten Hag.

Hjulmand’s initial impact was felt when he led Leverkusen to a 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in his first Bundesliga match, despite finishing with only nine players. This week, he faces a Copenhagen team coming off a disappointing loss to Brøndby that knocked them off the top of the Danish Super League.

“It’s a crucial moment for us. We need to bounce back and prove ourselves on the European stage,” Hjulmand said in a pre-match interview.

Copenhagen will be motivated to perform well, having won all three of their Champions League qualifiers at home. However, they will miss Jonathan Moalem, Magnus Mattsson, and Oliver Höjer due to injuries. Coach Jacob Neestrup emphasized the importance of home advantage, stating, “We must take our chances if we want to compete with top teams like Leverkusen.”

Leverkusen, despite being without players like Martin Terrier and Jeanuël Belocian due to injuries, will have Robert Andrich and Ezequiel Fernandez available for selection after their red cards only affect domestic matches. “We’ve trained hard and are ready for the challenge ahead,” Andrich said.

The kickoff for this highly anticipated match takes place at Parken Stadium, where both teams look to start their Champions League journey on a high note.