Football Bet of the Day: Leverkusen to prevail in Copenhagen

Uefa has made another tweak this season, giving us a bonus day of Champions League action with matches now spread across Tuesday to Thursday. Thursday’s card features some eye-catching ties, including Man City vs Napoli, while Newcastle host European giants Barcelona.

There’s also Europa League football, with Aston Villa desperate to end their home goal drought against Bologna, but the focus here is on a Champions League clash in Denmark for my Football Bet of the Day.

Kobenhavn vs Bayer Leverkusen Odds

Leverkusen have had a turbulent start to the 2025/26 campaign, sacking Xabi Alonso’s successor Erik ten Hag after just two Bundesliga games in charge.

The Dutchman’s brief stint comprised a 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim and a dramatic 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen, where victory was snatched away at the death.

Kasper Hjulmand was swiftly appointed and delivered a much-needed 3-1 win over previously unbeaten Frankfurt on Saturday.

That result should do wonders for Leverkusen’s confidence, getting the all-important first win on the board and they are fancied to prove too strong for Danish side FC Copenhagen.

Alonso guided Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title in 2023/24 and a runners-up finish last season, so expectations are understandably high.

Hjulmand will have been relieved to get that maiden victory and take the pressure off early.

Copenhagen will not be pushovers, but Leverkusen’s superior quality should tell and they can continue down the new manager bounce route. That’s why the away side are backed to collect all three points (17.45, TNT Sports) at the Parken.

Coincidentally, Hjulmand is Denmark’s former national coach, the man who led them to the Euro 2020 semi-finals before losing to England at Wembley.

It will be interesting to see what kind of reception he gets from the home supporters, but he will be eager to show he remains a top-class manager after stepping down from the national job.

Copenhagen slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Brondby at the weekend and sit second in the Danish Superliga. They reached this season’s Champions League through qualifying after finishing second in their domestic league last season.

They beat Malmo and Basel over two legs each to secure their place in the league phase. In the competition, with their previous best efforts round of 16 appearances in 2010/11 and 2023/24.

The sides have met only twice before in this competition, back in 2013/14, when Leverkusen prevailed 7-2 on aggregate.

Leverkusen possess key players who can make the difference again. Patrik Schick has scored four in four so far this term, after hitting 27 goals last season, while Alejandro Grimaldo remains a major threat on the left flank, having bagged two goals against Frankfurt.

On the injury front, the hosts are without Magnus Mattsson, Jonathan Moalem and Oliver Hojer, while the visitors are without Exequiel Palacios and both Arthur and Jeanuel Belocian are doubts.

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