An injury sustained in last night’s win over Eintracht Frankfurt will keep Bayer Leverkusen’ Exequiel Palacios sidelined for the duration of the 2025 calendar year. Palacios’ Bundesliga outfit confirmed the news on Saturday afternoon. Palacios had to be subbed off at the quarter-of-an-hour mark with a muscle tendon problem in his right adductor. The 26-year-old is scheduled for surgery next week.

Alex Garcia replaced Palacios to serve as Robert Andrich’s partner in the double-six yesterday evening. New B04 head coach Kasper Hjulmand will have some serious tactical re-jiggering to engage in ahead of next weekend’s league fixture against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Neither Andrich nor potential other midfield candidate Ezequiel Fernandez will be available after both being sent off on double yellows last night. 

It might be the case that either attacker Malik Tillmann or centre-back Axel Tape receive a run-out in midfield. Before concerning himself with Gladbach, Hjulmand must try and help die Werkself get off to a successful start in Europe. Leverkusen kick off their 2025/26 Champions League campaign in Hjulmand’s native Denmark on Thursday against FC Copenhagen at the famed Parken Stadium.