Bayer Leverkusen eager to extend 45-game unbeaten run.

2024-09-22

With their season-long unbeaten run at stake, newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen face Stuttgart, who are striving to keep their top-two hopes alive, in a high-stakes clash at BayArena this Saturday.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

First-time title winners Bayer Leverkusen will take on top-two hopefuls Stuttgart, aiming for a swift return to winning ways after last weekend’s stoppage-time draw against Dortmund. Leverkusen were facing imminent defeat after a late goal by Niclas Füllkrug in the 81st minute. However, a stoppage-time effort by Josip Stanišić in the 90th+7 minute helped Leverkusen maintain their 30-game season-long unbeaten streak.

The draw, their first in five games, leaves Leverkusen also unbeaten in 45 games across all competitions. On Saturday, Die Werkself, with 80 points (25W, 5D, 0L), will look to extend the unbeaten Bundesliga run to 31 games, knowing they have an impressive record against the visiting side.

Against no other team have Leverkusen won as many matches as they have against Stuttgart in all competitions. Furthermore, Leverkusen have lost just one of their last 25 competitive matches against Stuttgart. A victory on Saturday would leave Leverkusen with a seven-game winning streak at home against the visitors.

A 3-4-2-1 formation with Jonas Hofmann in attack may be seen again, with Victor Boniface expected to rest ahead of Leverkusen’s Europa League semi-final first-leg clash against Roma on Thursday, May 2. Amine Adli rejoins the squad following a suspension, while Granit Xhaka is suspended due to accumulating an unacceptable number of yellow cards.

VfB Stuttgart

Stuttgart’s attempt to leapfrog Bayern in the race for a second-place finish took a hit after last weekend's 2-1 loss to Werder Bremen. They remained in 3rd place and are now three points adrift of the Bavarians going into Saturday’s game.

Stuttgart have 63 points (20W, 3D, & 7L) before the weekend, hoping to increase their chances of a second-place finish. Die Schwaben (WDWWL) have, under Sebastian Hoeneß, won each of their six Bundesliga Saturday evening matches, and they will be looking for another win this Saturday.

However, having lost last time out, Stuttgart could face back-to-back Bundesliga losses for the second time this season, having last done so in January. Sebastian Hoeneß will keep the 3-5-2 formation, with Deniz Undav, who scored against Bremen, teaming up with Serhou Guirassy in attack.

Guirassy is the club’s top scorer and the second-highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga, having netted 25 times, behind only Harry Kane (33 goals). Angelo Stiller is suspended from taking part in Saturday’s game.