Bayer Leverkusen face Stuttgart in Bundesliga weekend opener.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs
VfB Stuttgart
As Bayer Leverkusen seeks to strengthen their grip on third place and improve defensive solidity, they host Stuttgart on Friday in a Bundesliga clash where historical dominance and a potential record unbeaten run hang in the balance at the Bay Arena.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen progressed to the DFB-Pokal round of 16 with a 3-0 win over second-division side SV Elversberg on Tuesday. However, Xabi Alonso's men were not as ruthless in the Bundesliga, letting the lead slip twice in a 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen.
"We gave the lead away twice. It's not the first time that's happened to us this season," Alonso commented after his side conceded a late goal. Leverkusen have already dropped nine points from winning positions this campaign, with only Wolfsburg dropping more. This was the third draw in the last five matches for Die Werkself, who remain in 3rd place with 15 points.
Leverkusen will take on Stuttgart on Friday, hoping to return to winning ways. The defending champions have lost just once in the last 27 competitive meetings against the visitors and are unbeaten in the last 13. Avoiding defeat on Friday will set a record 14-match unbeaten run in this fixture.
In another subplot, Leverkusen will be aiming for their first clean sheet in the Bundesliga this season—a situation that has left Alonso frustrated. "We can and have to defend better. At the moment we are lacking certain solidity," he stated. However, historically, Leverkusen have kept more clean sheets against Stuttgart than against any other side.
Victor Boniface, who announced his return to the side with a goal against Bremen following a car crash, is expected to lead the line again in a 3-4-2-1 formation on Friday.
VfB Stuttgart
On Tuesday, Die Roten picked up a 2-1 win over Kaiserslautern to advance to the DFB Pokal round of 16. This result followed a 2-1 victory over Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga last Saturday.
The win helped Sebastian Hoeneß's side climb into 8th place with 12 points (3 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses). They sit level on points but ahead of 9th-placed Bremen due to a superior goal difference.
Stuttgart, with a recent form of WDDLW, will hope for a second straight Bundesliga victory when they take on Leverkusen. However, they have led in each of the last five competitive meetings between both sides under Hoeneß without winning any of them.
A 4-4-2 formation with El Bilal Touré and Deniz Undav in attack is expected for this clash. Meanwhile, Jeff Chabot is suspended as he was dismissed in the win over Kiel.
