Football Season Guide

Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to put up a sustained title challenge in the Bundesliga after requiring another late scramble to secure a Champions League qualification spot last season. While Bayer did satisfy their pre-season expectations of finishing in the top three of the league table, it only came thanks to a late surge in form that saw them win eight of their final nine games. Bayer's lack of depth was once again exposed last season as they struggled to cope with injuries, especially in the center of the midfield with Charles Aranguiz missing more than half of the season while Lars Bender and Christoph Kramer also struggled with injuries. Bayer have tried to strengthen in this area and while Kramer has being sold to Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern have brought in Julian Baumgartlinger from Mainz to provide competition for Bender, Aranguiz and Kevin Kampl, though with question mark persisting on Bender's fitness over the course of the season, it is one area where Bayer are weak. Coach Roger Schmidt will be hoping that his side can avoid an injury crisis similar to the one from last season though Levin Oztunali's return from his loan at Werder Bremen does provide increased options in the center of the midfield for Schmidt. Bayer have strengthened in other areas as well, with Kevin Volland their biggest signing and adds to the quality of players already present at the club including Karim Bellarabi, Julian Brandt and Hakan Calhanoglu. With Bayer managing to hold on to Javier Hernandez despite speculation over the summer, Schmidt has a host of quality attacking options to call on while they have also added at the back, with Danny da Costa's arrival from Ingolstadt increasing the competition at the right back position for Roberto Hilbert and Tin Jedvaj. They are a bit light in the center and left side of the defense, with Kyriakos Papadopoulos failing to emerge as a viable alternative to Omer Toprak and Jonathan Tah and Andre Ramalho was often preferred by Schmidt. Bayer have also decided not to renew Sebastian Boenisch's contract which means that Wendell remains the only experienced option in the left back position with Benjamin Henrichs showing great potential but still a work in progress. While there are a couple of areas where Bayer can improve, they do have enough quality to finish in the top three once again though Schmidt will be hoping that his side can emerge as serious challengers for the title this season.