On Saturday, the Bundesliga will witness an intriguing matchup between Mainz 05 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Coaches Bo Henriksen and Kasper Hjulmand, both from Denmark, will face each other on the sidelines.
Meet the Coaches: Henriksen vs. Hjulmand
Bo Henriksen, who took charge of Mainz in February 2024, is known for his passionate and direct coaching style. He has been noticeably emotional, amassing a yellow-red card and five yellow cards during his tenure. In contrast, Hjulmand, who replaced Erik ten Hag at Leverkusen in early September, is celebrated for his calm demeanor and strong tactical acumen.
Previous Encounters
The two coaches have clashed before during their time in Denmark. Hjulmand has a favorable record against Henriksen, winning three out of five encounters, with one loss and four draws. Henriksen acknowledged this disparity but contextualized it with financial considerations. “Hjulmand has a better record, but he also managed a team with ten times the budget of mine. However, I have won against him,” he stated, emphasizing his belief that Hjulmand is not unbeatable.
Current Team Situations
- Mainz 05 is currently struggling, sitting third from the bottom in the table after six matches.
- Henriksen has guided Mainz to an average of 1.5 points per game, scoring 1.6 goals each match, boasting one of the best records in the club’s Bundesliga history.
- Leverkusen, under Hjulmand, remains unbeaten in six matches, making them the favorites for the upcoming game.
Hjulmand previously coached Mainz from July 2014 to February 2015, where he began his Bundesliga career with a 2-2 draw against SC Paderborn. Despite an early unbeaten streak, he faced challenges that led to his eventual dismissal.
A Game to Watch
Fans are looking forward to this exciting showdown at the Mainz Arena. While Leverkusen is expected to perform strongly, Henriksen’s resilience could spring a surprise. Both teams are set to battle not just for points, but for early season momentum.
The match kicks off on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 15:30 local time, and will be available for live streaming on El-Balad.
