Bayer Leverkusen, last season’s Bundesliga champions, seek redemption following a frustrating 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen as they prepare to face Stuttgart at the BayArena.
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With 15 points from eight matches, Xabi Alonso’s men currently sit third in the Bundesliga. In contrast, Stuttgart occupies the eighth spot, tallying 12 points from their first eight matchweeks. Both teams enter Friday’s contest with differing recent results but equally high stakes.
Match Recap and Form Guide
Leverkusen came close to victory against Werder Bremen when Felix Agu’s own goal in the 77th minute gave them a 2-1 lead. However, a last-minute goal by Romano Schmid secured a draw for Bremen, marking Leverkusen’s third league draw in four games.
Overall, Alonso’s team has dropped points in four games this season, while they only dropped points in six matches during the entirety of last season. Despite their mixed form, Leverkusen did secure a decisive 3-0 victory against Elversberg in the DFB-Pokal, scoring twice within the first nine minutes and leading by three goals before the half.
Though prolific in attack with 16 goals in their last eight matches, Leverkusen’s defensive record is less secure, conceding ten goals and keeping just two clean sheets. Their inability to keep opponents from scoring in their last nine Bundesliga outings has left them ranked 11th defensively.
However, at BayArena, Leverkusen remains formidable, with four wins and one draw in their last five home matches, maintaining a nearly unbreakable 26-5-1 home record across their previous 32 fixtures.
On the other side, Stuttgart has been in strong form lately, winning three consecutive matches, including a 2-1 victory over Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal. Last week’s 2-1 win over Holstein Kiel, where they played with ten men after the 66th minute, showcased their resilience.
Manager Sebastian Hoeness, a potential future candidate for Manchester United, has emphasized his team’s dedication to the Bundesliga as their primary competitive focus. Under Hoeness, Stuttgart has lost only once in their last eight matches, a 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, while winning four and drawing three.
However, Stuttgart’s away record has been uneven, with three losses, two draws, and two wins in their last seven Bundesliga road games. Despite these struggles, they managed to secure five consecutive away victories in Bundesliga action before their recent run.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Leverkusen will be without forward Amine Adli, sidelined due to a broken leg until March 2025, and defender Jeanuel Belocian, who remains out until late November. Alonso will likely deploy a backline of Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie, supported by goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky. Up front, Victor Boniface is expected to lead the attack, with Martin Terrier and Florian Wirtz providing support.
Stuttgart faces several notable absences as well, including center-back Dan-Axel Zagadou, ruled out until February 2025, and Jeff Chabot, who is suspended after a red card against Holstein Kiel.
Other sidelined players include Luca Raimund, not due to return until early November, and Yannik Keitel, who is expected back by the end of November. Winger Justin Diehl and right-back Leonidas Stergiou remain doubtful, leading Hoeness to field a backline possibly featuring Josha Vagnoman, Arnie Chase, Anthony Rouault, and Maximilian Mittelstadt. Stuttgart’s front two will likely include El Bilal Toure and Deniz Undav.
Probable Lineups:
- Leverkusen: Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
- Stuttgart: Nubel; Vagnoman, Chase, Rouault, Mittelstadt; Millot, Karazor, Stiller, Leweling; Toure, Undav
Predictions and Final Thoughts
With Leverkusen’s offensive strengths and Stuttgart’s away inconsistency, Friday’s clash promises to be high-scoring. Leverkusen’s powerful home form and Stuttgart’s mixed away performances lean the advantage toward the hosts.
However, Stuttgart’s resilience under Hoeness might keep the contest competitive, especially if they can contain Leverkusen’s potent forward line. Expect an engaging showdown with potential fireworks at BayArena.
