VfB Stuttgart will welcome Bayer Leverkusen to the MHP Arena on Saturday, looking to get back to winning ways and keep their top-four hopes alive.
VfB Stuttgart are without a win in the last three games ahead of they match vs Bayer Leverkusen at the MHP Arena this weekend. Die Schwaben have picked up just one from the last six matches between the two teams, and the fans will demand a strong reaction from the players.
On the other hand, the visitors are coming into this game on the back of four wins from their last five league matches, which has helped them return to the top four and have their fate in their own hands. Die Werkself are fourth in the league table, and they will look to finish as high as possible.
Both teams are currently level on points after 32 matches, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. This is likely to be an evenly matched contest. Stuttgart will look to fix their poor head-to-head record against Leverkusen this week. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
VfB Stuttgart
The hosts are without Ameen Al Dakhil and Finn Jeltsch, who have knee and abdominal injuries. Atakan Karazor is suspended. VfB Stuttgart will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Bayer Leverkusen, with Alexander Nubel in goal.
Lorenz Assignon and Maximilian Mittelstadt will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact, defensively, and hit the visitors on the break. Ramon Hendriks and Jeff Chabot will start as the two central defenders.
As for the midfield unit, Chema Andres and Angelo Stiller will start in the middle of the park, aiming to provide defensive cover and control on the side. Chris Fuhrich and Jamie Leweling will add pace and flair from the wide areas.
Meanwhile, Bilal El Khannouss will reprise the central attacking-midfield role and look to create opportunities for his teammates and link the midfield to the attack. Finally, Deniz Undav will lead the line for VfB Stuttgart vs Bayer Leverkusen.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Nubel; Assignon, Hendriks, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Andres, Stiller; Fuhrich, El Khannouss, Leweling; Undav
Bayer Leverkusen
The home team will be without Lucas Vazquez and Martin Terrier this weekend. Bayer Leverkusen will shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation vs VfB Stuttgart, with Janis Blaswich in goal.
In the back three, Jarell Quansah will start alongside Loic Bade and Edmond Tapsoba. Montrell Culbreath and Alejandro Grimaldo will start as the wing-backs. They will help out defensively and look to hit Stuttgart on the break.
As for the midfield unit, Aleix Garcia and Exequiel Palacios will pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park. They will add control and composure to the side. Malik Tillman and Ibrahim Maza will start as the attacking midfielders.
The advanced duo will look to create opportunities in the final third with their vision and technical ability. Finally, Patrik Schick will spearhead the Bayer Leverkusen attack vs VfB Stuttgart at the MHP Arena on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Bade, Tapsoba; Culbreath, Garcia, Palacios, Grimaldo; Maza, Tillman; Schick
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have won four of their last five matches in the Bundesliga.
- Both teams have scored in five of the last six meetings between VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
- Stuttgart have not won their last five matches against Bayer Leverkusen.
- Meanwhile, 25 goals have been scored in the last 6 matches between the two teams.
Player to Watch
Patrik Schick
The Czech striker is our key player to watch out for. He will look to find the back of the net here and create opportunities for his teammates. Schick was outstanding in his outing against RB Leipzig, and he scored a hat-trick against them. He will look to carry on from where he left off and punish the stuttering VfB Stuttgart defence here. Leverkusen will depend on him to produce a defining performance in the final third this weekend.
Prediction
VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Both teams will be desperate for a victory here, and this is likely to be a close game. VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen are level on points, and they have embarked on similar trajectories thus far. Neither side will want to drop points here, and it will be difficult to separate them. The two teams could end up cancelling each other out and sharing the spoils in a draw.