The pick of the DFB Pokal quarter-finals sees Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen hosting VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday in what promises to be a scintillating clash.
The third quarter-final in the 2023/24 DFB Pokal will see Bayer Leverkusen taking on VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday evening.
Bayer Leverkusen are amazingly still yet to lose in any competition this term, with their unbeaten run now standing at 29 games. They have amassed 52 points, surpassing their total from the previous season, within the first 20 games. Die Werkself secured their 16th league win of the season over the weekend, beating Darmstadt 2-0.
In this competition, they have beaten Sandhausen 5-2 and Paderborn 3-1 in the previous rounds. Leverkusen are en route to a memorable season and are the clear favourites in this one. They should be feeling confident about progressing from this tie against a side that have struggled on their travels lately, losing three of their last four away matches.
While Bayer Leverkusen have grabbed all the headlines this term, VfB Stuttgart have arguably been the most improved this season compared to last. After ending the last league campaign in the relegation playoff spot, they have already collected 40 points after 20 matches this term, already surpassing their tally over the entire last season.
Die Roten come into this match off the back of a solid 3-1 win over Freiburg at the weekend, which followed an incredible 5-2 victory over RB Leipzig. And that was without their talismanic striker, Serhou Guirassy, available due to his AFCON representation.
Team News and Tactics
Bayer Leverkusen
Victor Boniface (groin), Exequiel Palacios, and Arthur (both thigh) all remain sidelined with injuries, while Odilon Kossounou is still away with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Edmond Tapsoba made his first appearance since returning from Burkina Faso duty at AFCON 2023, and the centre-back should start for Leverkusen on Tuesday alongside Jonathan Tah and Josip Stanisic.
Nathan Tella made his first league start against Darmstadt last time out since joining Xabi Alonso’s side in the summer. He has been restricted to just 242 Bundesliga minutes for the league leaders so far this season. But he has now made a strong claim for a starting place by scoring twice to ensure his side remain unbeaten.
Captain Lukas Hradecky was back between the sticks for Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday after Matej Kovar was surprisingly handed his Bundesliga debut in the previous game. Alonso could yet again rotate his goalkeeper for this cup game.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kovar; Stanisic, Tah, Tapsoba; Tella, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Hlozek; Schick
VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart will be without the services of Silas Katompa Mvumpa, who is featuring in the AFCON for semi-finalists DR Congo, South Korea’s Jeong Woo-yeong, who is at the AFC Asian Cup, and the injured Nikolas Nartey, who is nursing a knee injury. In another piece of unfortunate news for Sebastian Hoeness, Dan-Axel Zagadou tore his ACL in training and is out for the season.
Stuttgart were unable to find a replacement before the transfer window closed, although former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud was signed on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Atakan Karazor should provide another boost to the midfield alongside Angelo Stiller after returning from suspension in the last game. In-form Denis Undav should start, with the Brighton loanee scoring four times in the last two league fixtures, including netting his first Bundesliga hat-trick in the 5-2 win over RB Leipzig. Serhou Guirassy could make the bench after returning from Africa Cup of Nations duties with Guinea.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Nubel; Stergiou, Anton, Rouault; Vagnoman, Karazor, Stiller, Mittelstadt; Millot, Fuhrich; Undav
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen are still yet to lose a match in any competition this season, with their unbeaten run currently standing at 29 games.
- Both teams have scored in three of VfB Stuttgart’s last five matches.
- There have been over 3.5 goals in all three of Leverkusen’s DFB Pokal matches this term.
- Bayer Leverkusen have scored at least two goals in 15 of their last 16 home matches against VfB Stuttgart in all competitions.
- Die Werkself have won nine of their last ten home matches against VfB Stuttgart in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Deniz Undav
While he failed to really make his mark at Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, Deniz Undav is firing on all cylinders in the Bundesliga and could well get a call-up to the Germany national team if he continues his impressive form for VfB Stuttgart this season.
The 27-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion loanee has hit nine Bundesliga goals in 15 outings so far this term, having struck up an impressive partnership with Serhou Guirassy in a swashbuckling Stuttgart side. And he will fancy his chances of finding the back of the net on Tuesday.
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 VfB Stuttgart
The match promises to be entertaining, as Xabi Alonso’s attacking approach has received a lot of praise this season. Bayer Leverkusen have scored 42 goals in their 14 home matches this term.
Both sides scored in the last meeting between the two, and the visitors may have their talisman Serhou Guirassy back for this tie. So, plenty of goals should be on the cards as Leverkusen progress into the semi-finals as they continue in their hunt for their first DFB Pokal trophy since 1993.
Stuttgart all the best