Bayer Leverkusen's season under new coach Carles Martinez has been defined by inconsistency, and a 2-2 draw at Augsburg on matchday 3 keeps the pressure on a squad still finding its feet. After the shock 2-3 home defeat to promoted Elversberg on opening day, a commanding 4-0 win at Union Berlin suggested a recovery, but the draw in Augsburg means Leverkusen sit sixth with four points from three games, already some distance behind the early pacesetters.

The squad's instability off the pitch has made building momentum harder. The departures of Piero Hincapie and Alejandro Grimaldo removed two key figures from the title-winning structure, and the summer transfer window drew criticism from Toni Kroos, who questioned the club's direction in his podcast. Kroos pointed specifically to the treatment of Robert Andrich, who was publicly stripped of the captaincy before a U-turn, while Exequiel Palacios was sold from the same position. Kroos said the window looked "komisch" and suggested Leverkusen would struggle to finish in the top five.

There are also questions about Jonas Hofmann, who was left out of the Europa League squad and has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab, where the window remains open until October. Martinez acknowledged the situation but noted Hofmann could still contribute given injury problems on the wings.

Leverkusen's next test comes in the Europa League at home to NK Celje on 16 September, a fixture that offers a chance to build confidence before the Bundesliga resumes.