Leverkusen series holds: Stuttgart ready for Bayern, no winner in the top game

Sport Leverkusen’s series holds

Stuttgart ready for Bayern, no winner in the top game

Status: 10.12.2023 | Reading time: 3 minutes

Bayer Leverkusen missed out on victory in the top game despite a great final offensive, but remains unbeaten. With strong Stuttgart, it was only enough for a draw after being behind at the break. VfB is now traveling to FC Bayern with a big chest.

Bayer Leverkusen didn’t let themselves be stopped by the surprise team VfB Stuttgart, but didn’t take full advantage of FC Bayern’s mistake. Thanks to a stronger second half, the unbeaten league leaders drew 1-1 (0-1) at VfB on Sunday. National player Florian Wirtz, who recovered in time, saved the draw for the leaders from the Rhineland in front of 54,500 spectators. Chris Führich had put the initially better Swabians in the lead (40th).

With the 22nd game without defeat in a row across all competitions, the Bayer team increased the gap to FC Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga table to four points, although the Munich team have played one game less. After a brilliant first half, the surprise third place Stuttgart missed an even better preparation for the away game at FC Bayern next Sunday. After all, VfB was only the third Bundesliga team after Bayern and Dortmund to win a draw against the Rhinelanders.

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Leverkusen’s young star Florian Wirtz reported fit in time after his ankle problems from the DFB Cup win against SC Paderborn and was able to play from the start. For the first time this Bundesliga season, his national team colleague Jonas Hofmann was not included in the starting line-up and only came into the game after a good hour in place of Amine Adli, who had started in his place. In the hope of a similarly strong performance from VfB as on Wednesday evening in the DFB Cup round of 16 against Borussia Dortmund (2-0), VfB coach Hoeneß relied on the same starting eleven.

Successful combination: Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz (left) celebrates the 1:1 with Jeremie Frimpong

Source: dpa/Tom Weller

Stuttgart starts strong

And the hosts’ hopes were fulfilled. From the start, a fast-paced, entertaining top duel developed in which the Swabians put the league leaders from the Rhineland under great pressure and played courageous football. Stuttgart had a number of top-class chances early on.

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First, Chris Führich tested Bayer keeper Lukas Hradecky (2nd). Then the Bayer defense was in dire straits after a free kick from Serhou Guirassy and had to clear Deniz Undav and Josha Vagnoman’s shots off the line twice (6′). After the previous two games with his dual leadership of Guirassy and Undav, VfB coach Hoeneß had warned that the exploitation of opportunities could be better. That was true this time too. Hradecky was just there for Undav’s next shot (17′), and Guirassy could have made it 1-0 when he appeared pretty much alone in front of Hradecky (25′).

The lead was deserved and was well played: Vagnoman beat Alejandro Grimaldo on the right, Stuttgart’s new international Führich took the lead. Bayer also had their chances in the first half, but not as many as the Swabians. Adli failed at the post (8th), Victor Boniface failed after a pass error by the VfB defense against keeper Alexander Nübel (24th).

After the break the picture changed. The guests came out of the dressing room better and with greater self-image. After an assist from Victor Boniface, Wirtz quickly celebrated the equalizer. Shortly afterwards, Leverkusen were unlucky not to have already turned the game around when Granit Xhaka’s long-range shot hit the post. Stuttgart were no longer able to impose their offensive game on Leverkusen as they had done in the first half. Shortly before the end, Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah put a shot just wide of the goal (87th).