Bayer Leverkusen 2026/27 season preview: can the Werkself return to the top four?
Bayer Leverkusen are aiming to get back among the Bundesliga's leading lights in 2026/27 after the bold appointment of Carles Martínez as coach and signing of several exciting prospects.
Bayer Leverkusen
2025/26 finish: 6th
Pre-season results: 7-1 win vs. Gießen, 3-0 win vs. Trabzonspor, 1-0 win vs. Waldhof Mannheim, 2-0 win vs. Hull, 5-1 win vs. FSV Frankfurt, 7-0 loss vs. Brentford 7-0 win vs. Sportfreunde Baumberg, 3-1 win vs. Kickers Offenbach, 4-0 win vs. Genk, 3-0 win vs. Rot-Weiss Essen, 2-1 win vs. Sevilla, 2-1 defeat vs. Nottingham Forest, 2-1 win vs. Newcastle United
First three fixtures: Elversberg (A), Union Berlin (H), Augsburg (A)
What to expect?
A new chapter opens at Leverkusen under Martínez, and the hope will be the club are the perfect match for his intense and positive playing style, which utilises pace in sharp attacking bursts.
The Spaniard is seemingly a man of action rather than grand promises, saying after his arrival: "The most important thing is that everyone feels valued and has the feeling that they can improve. I'm not the kind of coach who says beforehand, 'My team will play this way or that way.' It's important to feel what we're capable of. The most important thing is to be competitive and win games."
With wins away at Newcastle United and against both Sevilla and Genk in an impressive pre-season, the initial omens are positive that the club can go on an upwards trajectory and perhaps back into the top four after their sixth-placed finish last term.
Key new signing: Miguel Gutiérrez
Among a raft of exciting signings, it is perhaps Gutiérrez who has impressed the most during pre-season.
The defender has shown great versatility, playing both at left-back and in a more attacking role. Signed from Napoli, the Spaniard is expected to fill the role of an attacking winger and step into the shoes of Alejandro Grimaldo, who left in the summer.
Gutiérrez displayed excellent distribution in Serie A last season, completing 88 percent of his passes, and he is now eager to show his strengths in the Bundesliga.
See all Leverkusen's summer comings and goings here
Key player: Ibrahim Maza
Leverkusen rotated their attacking options frequently in pre-season to give their wealth of talent a chance to impress. One player who looks indespensible though is 20-year-old Maza. The Algeria international was already a key player for the Werkself last season.
Check out Leverkusen's new jerseys for 2026/27
The attacking midfielder is looking to press on after featuring in 28 Bundesliga matches during his maiden campaign at the BayArena, as well as making a total of 16 appearances in the DFB Cup and Champions League. A stunning long-range strike that opened the scoring in the first minute in the friendly away at Newcastle suggests he is ready to shine.
Talking point
With the departure of Grimaldo, Leverkusen lost another experienced member of their 2023/24 Invincibles. With the captaincy switched from Robert Andrich to centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, and lethal striker Patrik Schick becoming his deputy, a crucial factor in their season will be how well the new generation of leaders can step up to guide the squad.
With huge talents like Kennet Eichhorn and Afonso Moreira joining those youngsters hoping to press on like Maza, Christian Kofane and Ernest Poku, should the combination between elder heads and young guns click, the skilful side may just exceed expectations.
>>> Follow Leverkusen's Bundesliga opener at Elversberg here!
