VfB Stuttgart vs Bayer Leverkusen
The Bundesliga fixture list has thrown up yet another mouth-watering clash in the race for Champions League places; it’s Bundesliga: Stuttgart vs Leverkusen which is bound to be a cracker!
The two sides sit fifth and fourth in the top-flight table, with identical records of 17 wins, seven draws and eight losses…and they are not alone. TSG Hoffenheim, currently sixth also have that record and sit on 58 points, so it is goal difference which separates the three teams. Kasper Hjulmand’s Bayer are at +23, with Sebastian Hoeness’ VfB at +20 and TSG at +16.
Red Bull Leipzig are still within reach in third but, four points ahead are very nearly there and anything other than a draw in Stuttgart will see Die Roten Bullen over the line. But, with Hoffenheim playing at home to Werder Bremen on Saturday, a point apiece is likely to see VfB and Bayer finish the weekend in fifth and sixth with just one game to play.
That isn’t a position either club wants to be in, and that makes this game as near to a must-win game for both…the ultimate six-pointer. And with two of the league’s best strikers lining up, VfB’s Denis Undav and Patrik Schick of Leverkusen, with 18 and 16 goals respectively, this will be a great watch for the neutrals too.
Talking Points
Battling Stuttgart will miss their skipper
VfB’s clash with TSG Hoffenheim last week was a similar proposition, fifth versus fourth and, at that time, Leverkusen were the team in sixth. Die Schwaben battled back from a 3-1 deficit to grab a vital point as Tiago Tomas scored a stoppage-time leveller.
It felt like a win for Hoeness’ men, but the pre-match Stuttgart vs Leverkusen news from the hosts confirms that the thrilling comeback came at a cost as captain Atakan Karazor was red-carded and he will miss this vital meeting with Leverkusen. The Turkish midfielder is a key man in the Stuttgart line-up and his leadership and combative approach will be missed. He went over the top with a reckless foul on Fisnik Asllani and so Karazor will sit this one out, with Spanish defensive midfielder Chema Andres set to step in.
Chris Fuhruch and Ermedin Demirovic were on target before Tiago scored the dramatic equaliser against TSG, but it was a rare day off the score sheet for Undav who will be desperate to get back in action on Saturday. Another player to watch is midfield ace Angelo Stiller, who is hoping to work his way into Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for the World Cup.
Leverkusen’s timing could be perfect
After a slow start to the campaign and a struggle to find consistency, Bayer Leverkusen seem to have hit their form just in time, with three victories in their last four league games, beating Borussia Dortmund and Cologne, both away from home before whacking Red Bull back in Leverkusen. With two games to go, away to Stuttgart and at home to Hamburg on the final day Die Werkself have the momentum to see them through.
Leverkusen did a brutal job on Leipzig last week, hammering their top four rivals 4-1 with a hat-trick from Schick to take the Czech striker up to 16 goals and a fourth from winger Nathan Tella, while Christoph Baumgartner scored a consolation for Leipzig. It was a totally dominant display from Die Werkself who controlled possession and won the shot count by an impressive 23 to 14 and eight to five on target.
To beat an in-form top four rival so comfortably shows just how well Leverkusen are playing right now, and with success on the road recently against second-placed BVB Hjulmand’s men will head to Stuttgart with plenty of confidence.
History
Leverkusen have won 26 of 44 head-to-head encounters with Stuttgart and at the MHP Arena Die Werkself are ahead by 11 to four and there have been five draws
When the two teams met in Leverkusen in January VfB ran out 4-1 winners as Jamie Leweling scored twice and Undav was on target, but last season Bayer edged a 4-3 thriller in Stuttgart. And the visitors come into this match in better form.
VfB have won two, drawn two and lost two of the last six games while Bayer have won four and lost two.
Betting tip
The latest Stuttgart vs Leverkusen betting odds, here at SBOTOP, place the hosts as clear favourites at odds of 2.00 to win this six-pointer, with Leverkusen at 2.95 and the draw at 3.95. With two potent attacks on show, over 3.50 goals is priced at 1.88 but I’m edging towards a positive result for Die Werkself.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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