Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart – News and Probable Lineups

Desiring to return to winning form in the Bundesliga, an in-form Bayer Leverkusen will host a struggling Stuttgart at the BayArena on Saturday.

Die Werkself aim to secure their eighth victory in nine matches, while Die Roten seek to capitalize on their DFB-Pokal success from their last match.

Match overview

Carles Martinez Novell’s tenure at Leverkusen may have begun with a loss, but the team has developed into a formidable competitor in Germany’s elite division.

After finishing sixth last season, Die Werkself are currently vying for Champions League qualification, sitting fourth in the standings with 13 points, four behind leaders Bayern Munich and second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

However, Martinez Novell’s squad faced a shocking defeat last Sunday, losing 3-0 to Hoffenheim, with all goals conceded during a dramatic final quarter-hour, which also saw a penalty and red card for Die Kraichgauer.

On a brighter note, that loss marks Leverkusen’s only setback in their past 10 outings across all competitions, which includes eight wins following their impressive 5-2 cup victory over Nuremberg on Wednesday.

The home team will be eager to bounce back on Saturday, particularly as they have won all five of their home matches at BayArena this season, having notably kept three clean sheets.

On the other hand, Sebastien Hoeness’s Stuttgart have had a significantly tougher season, despite their aspirations to build on their 2025-26 Champions League qualification.

Currently, Die Roten find themselves in 15th place in the Bundesliga with just six points after seven fixtures, a grim result that has them barely above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Moreover, things have worsened as Hoeness’s team comes into this fixture on the back of two consecutive league losses, having suffered a 1-0 defeat to Hamburgo SV followed by a disheartening 3-2 defeat against the bottom-placed Borussia Monchengladbach, who had yet to secure a point before that match.

That said, Stuttgart managed to provide their fans with a glimmer of hope by winning their DFB-Pokal clash against SC Paderborn 1-0 on Wednesday – their first success in four outings.

However, it’s worth noting that Paderborn played with 10 men for much of that contest, and Die Roten still required a last-minute goal from Deniz Undav to secure the win.

Team News

Leverkusen will be missing wingers Eliesse Ben Seghir and Moussa Diaby due to hamstring injuries, while striker Christian Kofane is still sidelined with a thigh issue, and attacking midfielder Martin Terrier has a muscle problem.

In their absence, Patrik Schick is expected to lead the line, supported by Nathan Tella, Malik Tillman, and Ibrahim Maza.

Right-back Guela Doue is also anticipated to be out with a calf injury, while defensive midfielder Kennet Eichorn is gradually regaining fitness following the stabilization of his metabolic disorder, and centre-back Loic Bade is a doubt after being stretchered off due to a head clash against Hoffenheim.

Considering this, Facundo Medina is poised to partner Edmond Taposba in the centre of the backline, flanked by Jarell Quansah and Miguel Gutierrez, while Ezequiel Fernandez and Aleix Garcia will likely operate in central midfield.

As for Stuttgart, they will be without young wingers Justin Diehl and Leo Sauer, both struggling with thigh and groin injuries, respectively, while Tiago Tomas is recovering from a muscle issue, so Emedin Demirovic is likely to start in attack, benefitting from support from an offensive trio of Bilal El Khannouss, Deniz Undav, and Chris Fuhrich.

At the back, centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou will miss out due to a hamstring injury, similar to right-back Josha Vagnoman, while key defensive midfielder Angelo Stiller faces a doubt with an adductor problem.

Nonetheless, Lorenz Assignon, Finn Jeltsch, Jeff Chabot, and Maximilian Mittelstadt are set to form the visiting defense, while Grischa Promel and Atakan Karazor will play in a double pivot in midfield.

Bayer Leverkusen probable starting XI:

Spots; Quansah, Medina, Tapsoba, Gutierrez; Fernandez, Garcia; Tella, Tillman, Maza; Schick

Stuttgart probable starting XI:

Manger; Assignon, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Promel, Karazor; El Khannouss, Undav, Fuhrich; Demirovic

While Leverkusen did suffer a loss to Hoffenheim in their previous Bundesliga match, it was unexpected, and the club was able to recover in midweek.

On the other hand, Stuttgart also managed to win their cup encounter on Wednesday, though they found it challenging to overcome 10-man Paderborn, and Die Roten are likely to leave BayArena empty-handed on Saturday.