Compared with the 3-0 win against SV 07 Elversberg in the second round of the DFB Pokal, head coach Xabi Alonso made seven changes: Only birthday boy Nordi Mukiele, Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba and Granit Xhaka played from the start again. Martin Terrier was unavailable as were the injured Amine Adli and Jeanuel Belocian.
The match was evenly balanced from the start but there was a setback for Stuttgart: After 180 seconds Jamie Leweling complained of pains in his left thigh off the ball. The Germany international had to be substituted and was replaced by Fabian Rieder (8'). The first noteworthy chance of the game came on twelve minutes: Jeremie Frimpong intercepted a Stuttgart pass and raced towards the VfB goal but Alexander Nübel was able to save his shot. Shortly after that, Alejandro Grimaldo tested the Stuttgart keeper (14'), Anrie Chase then blocked an effort from Florian Wirtz (15').
The Black and Reds increased the pressure as the game went on, pressing high and continuing to play on the front foot – and the ball was in the back of the net but celebrations were cut short: Frimpong converted a pass from Victor Boniface but the provider was offside in the build-up (33'). The next chance for Bayer 04 fell to Tapsoba on 41 minutes with the central defender heading against the bar from a corner. The defender, along with Tah and Co., was in full control at the back with VfB not having a single shot in the first half that ended goalless.
The Black and Reds were on top again after the restart and had the first big chance in the second half: Wirtz intercepted a misplaced pass by Stuttgart and set up Boniface who shot against the right hand post (53'). Alonso then made a change in attack bringing on Jonas Hofmann for Mukiele. The visitors also made substitutions with Deniz Undav having their first chance of the game on 61 minutes.
Wirtz chipped a ball over the top to Frimpong but his header at pace went just wide of the post (66') and Nübel made an impressive save with his feet to deny Boniface (73'). On 77 minutes, Wirtz was kept out by the Stuttgart keeper – with shot number 17 of the night. Alonso made further substitutions late on with Patrik Schick, Nathan Tella and Exequiel Palacios coming on. However, despite the fresh legs and continued attacking efforts to the end, the Werkself were unable to gain the rewards for their efforts. The match against the runners-up ended goalless.
The Werkself now have two away games in the third double fixture week: The Black and Reds are away to Liverpool on Matchday 4 in the Champions League on Tuesday, 5 November (kick-off: 21.00 CET). That is followed on Saturday, 9 November (kick-off: 15.30 CET) by a visit to VfL Bochum on Bundesliga Matchday 10. Then comes the final international break of this year.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Mukiele (Hofmann 54'), Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie - Xhaka, Andrich (Palacios 86') - Frimpong (Tella 86'), Wirtz, Grimaldo - Boniface (Schick 86')
VfB Stuttgart: Nübel - Vagnoman, Rouault, Chase, Mittelstädt (Hendriks 58') - Karazor, Stiller - Leweling (Rieder 8’, Führich 58’), Undav, Millot (Demirovic 80’) - Touré (Al-Dakhil 80’)
Yellow cards: Andrich, Mukiele, Xhaka - Karazor, Millot, Chase, Stiller
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena
The penultimate Bundesliga matchday of the calendar year marks the end of an eventful first half of the season for the Bayer 04 Women. After seven wins, one draw and four defeats from the first twelve games of the season, coach Roberto Pätzold's team can go above Werder Bremen in the table with a win on Friday, 12 December (kick-off: 18:30 CET).
Show more
The third showdown in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26 kicks off for the Leverkusen eSports team this Thursday, 11 December (live on the B04eSports Twitch channel from 19:00 CET). In the online preliminary round, the Black and Red will once again take on six previously drawn opponents for a place in the Top 16 and the associated entry into the offline knockout round, which will take place at this third showdown on 19 December in Cologne. Showdown One winners Bayer 04 will face FC St. Pauli, who won the second showdown last month, among others. The lowdown on first three opponents in this online preliminary round.
Show more
Alejandro Grimaldo, of course! With his late equaliser (88') in the Champions League clash against Newcastle United, the Spaniard rescued a point for the Werkself, who took the lead through an own goal by Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes (13') but went with two goals for the visitors scored by Anthony Gordon (51') and Lewis Miley (74'). It was the third draw for Bayer 04 in the current 2025/26 campaign on matchday 6 in the UCL league phase.
Show more
The Werkself will be looking to continue their run in the Champions League against Newcastle United on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 21:00 CET). The two victories without conceding a goal at Benfica (1:0) and Manchester City (2-0) will hopefully be followed by a win at home at the BayArena. Against the English side, who have a player with a Black and Red past in their ranks, the way to victory could be through efficiency in attack and quick transitional play. The latter in particular has recently caused the Magpies problems away from home on the European stage. Fans can also get the stylish matchday sticker for their Sound of Dreams tour pass at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt. The matchday news.
Show more
For the first time ever, Bayer 04 have reached the knockout phase of the UEFA Youth League. At the end of the league phase, the Leverkusen U19s secured a 2-1 home win against Newcastle United on Wednesday, 10 December. Montrell Culbreath scored before half-time and Ferdinand Pohl doubled the lead after the restart in the clash with the English side. The UCL youth competition continues at the beginning of February with the Round of 32, which will be played away from home without a second leg.
Show more
