Can Stuttgart Trouble Leverkusen at the BayArena?

A favourite with a warning

Bayer Leverkusen can strengthen their position among the Bundesliga’s leading sides, while VfB Stuttgart need points to pull away from the bottom end of the table. The gap is already clear after seven matches: Leverkusen are fourth on 13 points, and Stuttgart sit 15th with six.

That makes Leverkusen the favourites at the BayArena, where they have won all three of their league games this season. But Stuttgart’s recent record against them offers a reason not to treat this as straightforward.

Leverkusen’s home edge

Leverkusen have won four of seven league matches, with one draw and two defeats. Their home attack has been especially productive, scoring eight goals in three games. They have also conceded just once at the BayArena in the league.

Stuttgart’s start has been much less consistent: two wins and five defeats. They have scored 10 goals overall, but only four in four away matches, while conceding eight on the road. Their recent five-game run has brought one win, against four defeats.

Stuttgart have upset the script

The last five meetings have been close and often entertaining. Stuttgart won 3-1 in May and 4-1 away at Leverkusen in January, while Leverkusen edged a 4-3 contest in March. The other two matches finished 0-0 and 2-2.

Those results underline the visitors’ ability to trouble Leverkusen, even if the hosts’ current home form points to a different challenge. Stuttgart will need to turn that past threat into a more reliable away performance.

Absences across both squads

Leverkusen are without L. Bade, E. Ben Seghir, M. Diaby, G. Doue, K. Eichhorn, C. Kofane and M. Terrier. Stuttgart’s unavailable players are J. Diehl, L. Sauer, A. Stiller, T. Tomas, J. Vagnoman and D. Zagadou.

The absences on both sides could shape the contest, but Leverkusen retain the stronger league position and have been far more convincing at home.

Goals at both ends?

Leverkusen have scored 10 times across their last five matches, but have also conceded nine. Stuttgart have found the net five times in their last five and conceded seven. That combination suggests the visitors may find opportunities, though their away scoring rate of one goal per match makes a sustained threat harder to assume.

PreviaXI’s model favours a home win, with Leverkusen’s stronger attacking output and BayArena record the clearest reasons. Stuttgart’s recent wins in this fixture make a clean sheet look far from certain.

Our prediction

Leverkusen have enough home strength to take the points, but Stuttgart’s head-to-head record and the hosts’ recent goals conceded point to chances for both teams. A narrow home victory looks the likeliest outcome.

Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 VfB Stuttgart