Bayer Leverkusen are building momentum on two fronts, but a squad flashpoint threatens to overshadow their strong run of form. The Werkself hammered Lech Poznan 4-0 in the Europa League on 15 October, as confirmed by the structured sports data, extending a sequence that has seen them win four of their last five matches across all competitions. That run includes a dramatic 4-3 Bundesliga victory at Mainz and a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig, underlining the attacking quality Carles Martinez has at his disposal.

The Boniface situation, reported by GOAL, is the story that refuses to go away. The Nigerian striker left the stadium before the final whistle against Mainz after Martinez used his last substitution on Jonas Hofmann rather than bringing Boniface on. Sporting director Simon Rolfes moved to calm the situation publicly, while Martinez said he was unaware of the incident during the match and pledged to speak with the player. Boniface has played just five minutes all season and was not registered for the Europa League, limiting his competitive options further.

In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen sit fourth with 10 points from five games, according to the standings data, three points behind third-placed Freiburg, who arrive at the BayArena on Sunday. Bundestrainer Jürgen Klopp will be watching that fixture in person, as reported by GOAL, adding extra scrutiny to a match that carries real weight in the early-season table.