Stuttgart vs Bayer Leverkusen

MHPArena forms the backdrop for a heavyweight Bundesliga showdown between Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite showing mental fortitude to defy a numerical disadvantage in a 2-2 draw against season-long strugglers Holstein Kiel last weekend, Stuttgart’s slump continues. Winless in four consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time this season (D2, l2), Sebastian Hoeness’ men trail fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt by five points pre-round, highlighting the importance of beating the reigning champions in this mouth-watering fixture. However, Stuttgart last won a top-flight H2H in April 2018 but can take confidence from holding Leverkusen to a scoreless draw in December’s reverse fixture at the BayArena. Worryingly, they’ve failed to beat this opposition on home turf in the Bundesliga since April 2010 (D5, L7), intensifying the risk of losing three consecutive home league matches for the first time since February 2022. 

On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen bowed out of the Champions League last-16, losing 5-0 on aggregate to Bayern Munich, and can now focus on locking down another top-four finish in the Bundesliga. Xabi Alonso’s underperforming side shockingly slipped to a 2-0 home loss to Werder Bremen last weekend before an identical home defeat to Bayern in midweek Champions League action condemned them to a third consecutive loss in all competitions. On a positive note, ‘Die Werkself’ head into proceedings as the only unbeaten away team in the Bundesliga this season (W7, D5), which forms part of their record-chasing 29-game unbeaten run on the road in this competition (W21, D8).