VfB Stuttgart – Bayer Leverkusen
A real Bundesliga highlight will take place at the MHPArena this Sunday when VfB Stuttgart face Bayer Leverkusen. The Swabians, currently in 8th place in the table, are stuck in the middle of the pack. The “Werkself” are in second place with 53 points and recently suffered a major setback in the Champions League: they suffered a 2-0 home defeat against FC Bayern, which meant they were knocked out of the competition. Stuttgart, on the other hand, drew 2-2 in a nerve-wracking cup game against Holstein Kiel during the week, but lost defender Leonidas Stergiou to a red card. At least coach Sebastian Hoeneß can count on Jeff Chabot, Luca Jaquez, Finn Jeltsch and Ameen Al-Dakhil again, which could stabilize the defense. Leverkusen are without Florian Wirtz, who has a right ankle ligament injury. The last Bundesliga clash between the two teams ended goalless in November.
- Venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart
- Date and Time: 03/16/2025, 7:30 PM
- Competition: Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart Form & Record Check
VfB Stuttgart are currently going through a tricky phase in the Bundesliga: only one win in the last five games explains the current 8th place in the table. In all these encounters, the Swabians conceded goals, although the offense scored regularly but often lacked composure. The recent 2-2 draw at Holstein Kiel once again highlighted these weaknesses, especially since Stuttgart had to play with ten men after Stergious was sent off. The return of Chabot, Jaquez, Jeltsch and Al-Dakhil could now ease the defensive problems. In attack, however, Deniz Undav is in a prolonged slump in form. Seven goals and one assist are not satisfactory for the most expensive player in the squad, which is why alternatives such as Woltemade or Demirović are coming into focus. However, there is still room for improvement in midfield, with Stuttgart level on points with Borussia Mönchengladbach and just one point behind VfL Wolfsburg. It is worth noting that in 80% of cases, the first half ends in a draw in games involving Stuttgart, while significantly more goals are scored in the second half. In addition, Angelo Stiller continues to impress as an important all-rounder; with his outstanding passing rate and flexibility, he has proven to be indispensable.
VfB Stuttgart will probably stick to the proven 4-2-3-1 system this time as well. After the series without a win, major experiments are hardly to be expected. In attack, El Bilal Touré could return to the starting lineup after his return against Kiel, while the out-of-form Deniz Undav could move to the bench. In defense, Ameen Al-Dakhil and the other returnees are important pillars, but Dan-Axel Zagadou and Anrie Chase are still missing. Angelo Stiller is likely to move back to midfield after his brief stint as a central defender, where he will provide more stability. It will be interesting to see whether Ermedin Demirović will start after his clear words or whether Nick Woltemade will be given preference.
Bayer Leverkusen Form & Record Check
Bayer Leverkusen is currently in a significant form crisis. After a strong season so far, the Werkself recently lost 2-0 at home to Werder Bremen, with hardly any offensive power to be seen. However, the elimination from the Champions League was particularly painful: a 3-0 first-leg defeat to FC Bayern and a 2-0 loss in the second leg led to an aggregate result of 0-5. Without Florian Wirtz, who is out with an ankle ligament injury, Leverkusen is noticeably lacking creative spark in the final third. They remain in second place in the Bundesliga with 53 points, but their nine-point lead over Mainz 05 could quickly shrink if their recent losing streak continues. Nevertheless, coach Xabi Alonso is hoping for a turnaround in the upcoming match against Stuttgart. After three consecutive defeats, his team urgently needs new success to avoid sliding further into crisis.
Bayer Leverkusen are expected to field their established 4-5-1 system, which often provides the necessary compactness. Goalkeeper Hrádecký remains set despite an unfortunate collision in the last game. In the back four, Arthur, Tah, Hermoso and Hincapié could play, with Grimaldo likely to play offensively on the left side. In the center, Xhaka, together with Garcia and Palacios, will direct the midfield. The loss of Florian Wirtz after an inner ligament injury weighs heavily, so that Frimpong on the right wing is additionally challenged as a creative factor. Schick is likely to play as the sole striker up front. In addition, Belocian (cruciate ligament rupture) and Terrier (Achilles tendon rupture) are missing, which could force coach Alonso to make tactical adjustments. With options like Tapsoba, Andrich and Adli, experienced alternatives are at least available on the bench.
VfB Stuttgart – Bayer Leverkusen head to head & statistics
The most recent direct duels between Stuttgart and Leverkusen were mostly even: four of the last five games ended in a draw, with the Werkself only winning once. In November 2024, both teams played out a 0-0 draw in the Bundesliga, while Leverkusen only won the Supercup that same year on penalties. In four of these five encounters, both teams scored at least once, and often the goals only came in the second half. Stuttgart have been waiting for several attempts to beat the Werkself, but they have scored at least one goal in four consecutive encounters.
