FC Copenhagen vs Bayer Leverkusen | Football Previews & Free Betting Tips | 18th September 2025

Champions League football is back in Copenhagen as FC Copenhagen host Bayer Leverkusen on 18 September 2025. The Danes enter after a derby defeat to Brøndby but still sit high in the Superliga, while Leverkusen arrive buoyed by a 3–1 win over Frankfurt under new boss Kasper Hjulmand — a Dane returning to familiar surroundings for his first European night in charge.

Expect a packed Parken Stadium, with Copenhagen’s fans in full voice and a strong German contingent travelling north. The hosts will likely set up in a 4-3-3, leaning on structure and physicality, while Leverkusen should stick to their attacking 4-2-3-1, with plenty of rotations between Boniface and Schick in the final third.

• Copenhagen’s balance: they average 55% possession and 1.8 xG per game, but concede around 1.2 xGA, showing they give up chances when stretched.
• Leverkusen’s width: with Grimaldo in particular pushing on, they average 15 shots per game and 6 on target, creating overloads from deep positions.
• Second-half surge: both sides score more after the break — Copenhagen 55%, Leverkusen 60%. This fixture could swing late.

FC Copenhagen: Magnus Mattsson is out long-term with a cruciate injury. Oliver Højer is sidelined post-surgery, and Jonathan Moalem remains unavailable. Andreas Cornelius should lead the line, supported by Mohamed Elyounoussi and Elias Achouri wide. Lukas Lerager adds experience in midfield.

Bayer Leverkusen: Exequiel Palacios is out until the new year after adductor surgery. Nathan Tella misses the opener, while Martin Terrier is out long-term. Hrádecký starts in goal, with Wirtz the creative hub and Schick or Boniface leading the line. Álex Grimaldo is fresh off two free-kick goals against Frankfurt.

FC Copenhagen (last 10): 6–3–1. Averaging 2.0 goals for and 1.0 against per game. Three clean sheets in the last eight, though the derby defeat exposed defensive lapses late on.

Bayer Leverkusen (last 10): 6–3–1. This season’s league games have been wild — averaging 2.3 goals for and 1.7 against — and all three have gone over 2.5. They score plenty but offer chances the other way.

Copenhagen: 2.0
Leverkusen: 2.3

Copenhagen: 1.0
Leverkusen: 1.7

Copenhagen: 38%
Leverkusen: 0%

Copenhagen: 55%
Leverkusen: 60%

Copenhagen: 5.5
Leverkusen: 6.0

Copenhagen: 1.8
Leverkusen: 2.0

Copenhagen: 1.2
Leverkusen: 1.5

Copenhagen: 85%
Leverkusen: 88%

Copenhagen: 14.0 (5.0 on target)
Leverkusen: 15.0 (6.0 on target)

Copenhagen: 2.0
Leverkusen: 1.7

Copenhagen: 16.0
Leverkusen: 15.0

Copenhagen: 45% first half / 55% second half
Leverkusen: 40% first half / 60% second half

Copenhagen: 50% under / 50% over
Leverkusen: 0% under / 100% over

Copenhagen: 2.0
Leverkusen: 1.3

Copenhagen at home (last 10): Solid at Parken with goals in most outings and a handful of clean sheets. They’re good at leaning on set pieces and game management when ahead.

Leverkusen away (last 10): High-output travellers — big wins at Bochum and Frankfurt across the period — but they’ll leave space if full-backs bomb on. If they score first, they tend to keep going rather than shutting up shop.

Leverkusen’s attack nudges the xG needle a touch higher, while Copenhagen’s defensive xGA is the tidier number. If the visitors’ full-backs get their timing right, the chance quality could tilt their way.

The most recent competitive ties were in 2014 UCL qualifying: Leverkusen won 3–2 in Copenhagen and 4–0 at home to progress. A 2013 friendly also went Leverkusen’s way. History favours the Germans, but it’s a fresh era for both squads.

Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen): The reference point up top. If he pins the centre-backs and brings runners like Elyounoussi/Achouri into play, Copenhagen get territory and set-piece pressure.

Shick (Leverkusen): A very underrated striker

Copenhagen will be stubborn at home, but Leverkusen’s attacking quality looks hard to contain for 90 minutes. Expect the hosts to have moments, but the Germans should edge it with late pressure.

Prediction: FC Copenhagen 1–2 Bayer Leverkusen

Main pick: BTTS — both sides are scoring regularly but conceding too, with Leverkusen yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season.

Value bet: Over 2.5 goals — Leverkusen’s domestic games are all over so far, and Copenhagen average 2.0 for per match.