Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into Hoffenheim vs Leverkusen with the kind of league form that makes them hard to ignore. They have taken 13 of 15 possible points from their last five Bundesliga matchdays, and Patrik Schick has been central to that surge with six goals in the first six league matchdays.
This is not only a league story either. Leverkusen warmed up for Sunday 25 October, 15:30 CET by winning 0-2 at OFI Crete in the UEFA Europa League 2026/27, while Hoffenheim arrived on the back of a 3-0 home win over Olympique de Lyon. The contrast is clear: one side is building momentum over a longer stretch, while the other is trying to turn isolated wins into something more stable.
Schick has set the tone for Bayer 04
Schick's start is the headline reason Leverkusen have looked so strong. Scoring in each of the first six league matchdays is a club record, and it gives Bayer 04 a reliable reference point at the top end of the pitch. When a striker is that consistent, everything around him becomes easier to organise.
That is where the broader picture matters. Leverkusen's recent run has not been built on one explosive result alone, but on steady points accumulation since the second matchday of the season. They have looked like a side able to control games and still find decisive moments when needed.
Hoffenheim still have questions to answer
Hoffenheim's recent European win will give them confidence, but the Bundesliga picture is less comfortable. They have taken points in only two of their first six league games, which leaves them needing a stronger domestic response if they are to keep pace with opponents of Leverkusen's level.
That is why this fixture feels like such a useful test. Last season, Bayer 04 took no points against Hoffenheim, so the away side cannot assume past momentum will be enough. But the current trend suggests Leverkusen are in a better place, especially with Schick in this kind of form and the team finding results even when the schedule is demanding.
The verdict
Hoffenheim have shown they can produce a good result this week, but Leverkusen arrive with the stronger Bundesliga platform. If Schick stays on this scoring streak, Bayer 04 will have every reason to believe they can extend their league momentum again in Kraichgau.
