Two sides, Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart, need a game to truly kickstart their season, as the top order from last season faces off on Friday night.
Bayer Leverkusen are already five points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich after eight Bundesliga games as they get set to host VfB Stuttgart at BayArena on Friday. Last weekend, Xabi Alonso’s side recorded a third draw in four games in the league, which meant more dropped points, as this time, it came against Werder Bremen.
Despite holding on to a slender 2-1 lead until the end, Leverkusen were once again defensively complacent about conceding unwanted goals. This time, it came through Bremen’s Romano Schmid in the 90th minute, which deflated Alonso’s side a little.
Heading into the latest matchday, Bayer Leverkusen meet last season’s runners-up, VfB Stuttgart, at home, where they have a formidable record. Alonso’s side have lost one, drawn five, and won 26 of their last 32 home games, which makes them slight favourites heading into Friday night.
VfB Stuttgart are at least putting a string of results that is helping them climb up the table in recent weeks after a difficult start to the new campaign. Sebastian Hoeness’s side had failed to match the heights of last season when they finished runners-up in the Bundesliga, although with their DFB-Pokal win over Kaiserslautern, they recorded their third consecutive win in all competitions.
Last weekend, they managed to get past Holstein Kiel, with both sides getting a red card apiece. However, the highlight of their season came in the game before that, with a stellar 1-0 reverse win over Juventus, handing the Italians their first loss of the whole season.
However, they were also thrashed by league leaders Bayern Munich by a 4-0 scoreline before that, which somewhat highlighted their season’s performances so far. Stuttgart are now up against the formidable Bayer Leverkusen, who are eager to get back in the title chase, and Hoeness’s side are also up against it. Hence, a win over the reigning champions will feel like a statement of intent from Stuttgart, something they might give it a go.
Team News & Tactics
Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso will thank the medical team for keeping most of the squad fit, as Amine Adli remains the only one sidelined for the long term. Defender Jeanuel Belocian is also out until late November, but his absence is unlikely to dent Bayer Leverkusen’s plans for the upcoming games.
Alonso will continue to prefer a back three of Edomnd Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie, with Lukas Hradecky firmly settled between the sticks. With most of the squad fit, there is no reason for Alonso not to select Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo in those wing-back roles.
Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich will retain their central midfield berths. A front three of Martin Terrier, Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface looks sure to start for Bayer Leverkusen against VfB Stuttgart, with the Nigerian and the German likely to keep swapping positions as the game progresses.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Hradecky; Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Boniface, Terrier
Stuttgart
Unlike their hosts, VfB Stuttgart have a rather longer list of injured stars, and many are doubtful for the upcoming clash with Bayer Leverkusen. Centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou is out until February, while Jeff Chabot is suspended following his sending-off in the last league game.
Justin Diehl is also certain to miss out, while Angelo Stiller and Chris Fuhrich are doubtful to play against Leverkusen. Anthony Rouault, Leonidas Stergiou, Luca Raimund, and Yannik Keitel also are reasonable doubts.
Sebastian Hoeness hopes to have some of those players available after late tests, as he wants a strong setup against their hosts. Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirovic are expected to lead the line for Stuttgart against Bayer Leverkusen.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Nubel; Vagnoman, Rouault, Chase, Mittlstadt; Millot, Stiller, Karazor, Leweling; Undav, Demirovic
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have scored at least two goals in their last 8 home matches against VfB Stuttgart in all competitions.
- Bayer Leverkusen have scored at least two goals in 11 of their last 12 matches in the Bundesliga.
- Stuttgart have only won two of their last seven away games in the Bundesliga.
- VfB Stuttgart have three games in a row in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Victor Boniface
Boniface had a little shaky incident off the field that negatively affected him, but it appears the striker is back in with renewed focus for Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the game against VfB Stuttgart. He will be aiming for the top scorer’s spot, and having scored in their last three league games, he does have a shout at the very top.
The Nigerian international will be the player to watch out for when Bayer Leverkusen take on Stuttgart, as Alonso will be hoping to see his star striker fit and firing on all cylinders. Boniface can be the difference-maker here and will certainly wish to have his name on the scoresheet in a fourth consecutive league game.
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 VfB Stuttgart
The reigning champions have many questions to answer in their quest to regain some foothold in the title race after yet another draw. Xabi Alonso will be hopeful of getting a win against Stuttgart, but their visitors’ form makes the prospect look a bit difficult.
Bayer Leverkusen could still manage to not lose on home soil even against VfB Stuttgart; however, their visitors are in a run of form that sees this game probably ending in an entertaining draw. Hence, these two sides, who finished at the top of the tree in the Bundesliga last season, would probably have a share of points on Friday night.