Bundesliga Regular Season - 33
VfB Stuttgart 3 - 1 FT Bayer Leverkusen
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
A. Garcia (C. Kofane) 1'
5' E. Demirovic (N. Nartey)
45'+7 M. Mittelstadt
HT
47' E. Demirovic
58' D. Undav (J. Leweling)
↓ A. Garcia ↑M. Tillman 65'
↓ M. Culbreath ↑Arthur 65'
68' ↓ D. Undav ↑T. Tomas
78' ↓ M. Mittelstadt ↑L. Jaquez
78' ↓ N. Nartey ↑B. El Khannouss
↓ C. Kofane ↑E. Poku 78'
80' C. Fuhrich
↓ J. Quansah ↑E. Ben Seghir 86'
87' ↓ C. Fuhrich ↑L. Assignon
87' ↓ J. Leweling ↑J. Vagnoman
E. Palacios 90'+7
90'+7 T. Tomas
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
VfB Stuttgart
Goalkeepers
Alexander Nübel 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Ramon Hendriks
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jeff Chabot 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Maximilian Mittelstädt 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Midfielders
Jamie Leweling 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Chema Andrés
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Angelo Stiller 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
46%
Pass Acc
Chris Führich
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Nikolas Nartey
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
17%
Pass Acc
Ermedin Demirović 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
6
Shots
7.9
Rating
Deniz Undav
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
4
Shots
7.2
Rating
BENCH
Fabian Bredlow 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Luca Jaquez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lorenz Assignon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Josha Vagnoman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pascal Stenzel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dan Zagadou
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bilal El Khannouss
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tiago Tomás
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Badredine Bouanani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bayer Leverkusen
Goalkeepers
Mark Flekken
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jarell Quansah 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
0
Interceptions
1
Tackles
Robert Andrich
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Edmond Tapsoba 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
3
Fouls
6.3
Rating
Midfielders
Montrell Culbreath
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
Aleix García
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Exequiel Palacios 
MAGNET
73
Activity
73
Activity
66
Passes
7
Duels
Alejandro Grimaldo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Patrik Schick
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
96
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ibrahim Maza
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Christian Kofane
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Janis Blaswich
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Arthur
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Loïc Badé
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Vázquez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Malik Tillman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ezequiel Fernández
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jonas Hofmann
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ernest Poku
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eliesse Ben Seghir
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/10/2026 | Bayer Leverkusen | 1 - 4 | VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga | BayArena |
| 03/16/2025 | VfB Stuttgart | 3 - 4 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | MHPArena |
| 11/01/2024 | Bayer Leverkusen | 0 - 0 | VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga | BayArena |
| 08/17/2024 | Bayer Leverkusen | 2 - 2 (PEN 4-3) | VfB Stuttgart | Super Cup | BayArena |
| 04/27/2024 | Bayer Leverkusen | 2 - 2 | VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga | BayArena |
| 02/06/2024 | Bayer Leverkusen | 3 - 2 | VfB Stuttgart | DFB Pokal | BayArena |
| 12/10/2023 | VfB Stuttgart | 1 - 1 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | Stuttgart Arena |
| 05/14/2023 | VfB Stuttgart | 1 - 1 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | Mercedes-Benz-Arena |
| 11/12/2022 | Bayer Leverkusen | 2 - 0 | VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga | BayArena |
| 02/12/2022 | Bayer Leverkusen | 4 - 2 | VfB Stuttgart | Bundesliga | BayArena |
01/10/2026
03/16/2025
11/01/2024
08/17/2024
04/27/2024
02/06/2024
12/10/2023
05/14/2023
11/12/2022
02/12/2022
VfB Stuttgart Win
Bayer Leverkusen Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 33 GD: +82
P: 33 GD: +34
P: 33 GD: +22
P: 33 GD: +22
P: 33 GD: +17
P: 33 GD: +21
P: 33 GD: -9
P: 33 GD: -4
P: 33 GD: -12
P: 33 GD: -11
P: 33 GD: -14
P: 33 GD: -18
P: 33 GD: -15
P: 33 GD: -10
P: 33 GD: -21
P: 35 GD: -27
P: 33 GD: -29
P: 33 GD: -29
19 SC Paderborn 07 4 pts
P: 2 GD: +1
League Standings
P: 33 GD: +82
P: 33 GD: +34
P: 33 GD: +22
P: 33 GD: +22
P: 33 GD: +17
P: 33 GD: +21
P: 33 GD: -9
P: 33 GD: -4
P: 33 GD: -12
P: 33 GD: -11
P: 33 GD: -14
P: 33 GD: -18
P: 33 GD: -15
P: 33 GD: -10
P: 33 GD: -21
P: 33 GD: -26
P: 33 GD: -29
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Champions League Bound: Stuttgart Overpower Leverkusen in Crucial Comeback
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 85/100. A relentless attacking display flipped an early deficit into a vital victory, catapulting Stuttgart into the Champions League places with one match remaining.
Explosive Beginnings in Swabia
The MHPArena witnessed absolute chaos right from the opening whistle. The Stakes could not have been higher in this late-season crunch match, and Bayer Leverkusen struck a stunning early blow. Barely a minute had passed when A. Garcia found the back of the net following a sharp feed from C. Kofane. Yet, the home side flatly refused to crumble under the early pressure. Just four minutes later, VfB Stuttgart roared back as E. Demirovic converted a brilliant delivery from N. Nartey. The breathtaking tempo set the stage for a classic six-pointer, with both ambitious teams absolutely desperate to secure crucial European spots before the campaign wraps up.
The Penalty and The Constant Push
As the first half drew to a close, Stuttgart transformed their early urgency into an outright attacking siege. A massive 20-6 shot advantage across the afternoon completely shifted the momentum. Deep into first-half stoppage time, the immense pressure finally yielded a penalty. M. Mittelstadt stepped up confidently and buried the spot-kick, completing the turnaround before the break. The sheer Intensity of the hosts' forward push left Leverkusen scrambling defensively to cope. A disallowed VAR goal for offside by Demirovic moments later served as a stark warning. The visitors actually edged possession with fifty-one percent of the ball, but they looked entirely toothless against a relentless Swabian machine determined to secure a lucrative top-four finish.
Sealing the European Dream
The second half confirmed the home side's clear tactical superiority, definitively tilting the Balance of the tie in their favour. Before the hour mark, D. Undav produced the knockout blow, lashing home after superb creative work on the flanks from J. Leweling. Masterminding this comprehensive dominance was midfield maestro Angelo Stiller, whose exceptional orchestration kept the visitors chasing shadows across the pitch. Whenever Leverkusen threatened to mount a late charge, Alexander Nübel stood incredibly firm, making four vital saves to expertly protect the two-goal cushion. This triumphant 3-1 comeback victory lifts Stuttgart perfectly into the Champions League zone, leaving their rivals to settle for a fiercely contested UEFA Europa League berth.
Key Questions
How did VfB Stuttgart complete the comeback from behind?
After Aleix Garcia's first-minute opener, Demirovic equalized swiftly. A stoppage-time penalty from Mittelstadt and Undav's second-half strike sealed a dominant 3-1 turnaround.
What does this mean for VfB Stuttgart's season?
This crucial victory propels Stuttgart into fourth place, putting them in pole position to secure Champions League football with just one match remaining.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Top Four Drama Goes Down to the Wire
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 89/100. With just two points separating them on the penultimate weekend, this is a winner-takes-all shootout for Champions League football.
The Setup
When VfB Stuttgart host Bayer Leverkusen at the MHPArena on May 09, 2026, the race for Europe takes center stage. Sitting in 5th place with 57 points, Stuttgart cling to a fragile two-point lead over 6th-placed Leverkusen. The Stakes are massive as Matchday 33 arrives. Leverkusen bring intimidating road credentials, boasting a phenomenal 50 percent away win rate. Meanwhile, the hosts feature a highly volatile Form rating, having aggressively traded wins and losses over their last five fixtures.
Key Battle
The match hinges on Stuttgart's creative spark Chris Führich trying to outshine the ruthless finishing of Leverkusen's Patrik Schick. If Führich finds pockets of space, Stuttgart will fly. But Schick only needs half a chance to alter the destiny of the entire top four race.
Our Prediction
An incredibly tight Balance rating highlights how evenly matched these two contenders are. With elite Stars headlining both attacking units, high scoring is practically guaranteed. We expect a breathless 2-2 draw that leaves the race for Champions League qualification wide open heading into the final day.