Werkself remain unbeaten after 1-1 draw at Stuttgart

Bayer 04 head coach Xabi Alonso rejigged his defence compared to the 3-1 win over SC Paderborn in the DFB Cup round of 16 in midweek. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah and Edmond Tapsoba returned to the starting XI, with Matej Kovar, Josip Stanisic, Robert Andrich and Piero Hincapie dropping back to the bench. Florian Wirtz shook off his ankle injury in time to be fit, while Amine Adli kept his place ahead of Jonas Hofmann. The contest between two attack-minded teams got off to a fast start and Hradecky was called into action after just three minutes, turning away a shot by Führich for a corner. The Finn then saved Serhou Guirassy's free kick, before Alejandro Grimaldo and Tapsoba had to both clear off the line from Deniz Undav and Josha Vagnoman (7'). At the other end, Bayer 04 responded with a quick counter initiated by Jeremie Frimpong, who was celebrating his 23rd birthday. After a fine pass from Victor Boniface, Adli struck the inside of the post from a tight angle (9'). 

Hradecky with GREAT SAVE against Guirassy

The early pressure from Stuttgart continued, with Hradecky making two fine saves from Undav shots. Boniface's shot was then too central to beat Alexander Nübel, before Hradecky made another excellent stop with his feet to stop Guirassy one-on-one, as well as saving Führich's follow-up shot. But Bayer 04 grew into the game as Grimaldo had a shot blocked for a corner (29'), from which Adli's header flew over. It was the home side who eventually opened the scoring, Vagnoman's cross from the right being bundled in by Führich from close range, leaving the score at 1-0 at half-time.

Xhaka and Wirtz turn it on

The visitors came out with energy at the start of the second half and promptly equalised. Granit Xhaka played a brilliant through ball to Boniface, whose cross was finished off by Wirtz - who had popped up with a great solo run just before - for his fourth goal of the season (47'). Two minutes later, Xhaka's low shot from 20 metres hit the post. Stuttgart appeared rattled by the increased tempo of Leverkusen, who were now in control. Hofmann came on for Adli shortly after the hour mark (65'), soon followed by the introduction of Patrik Schick for Boniface (73').

Alonso then brought Hincapie on for Exequiel Palacios. In an intense, end-to-end contest, Bayer 04 tried to find a winner - and had the best chance to score it. From a corner, the ball dropped to Tah, whose shot narrowly missed the target (88'). A corner from Schick was then deflected for another corner (89'). Five minutes were added on but it finished 1-1.

home games against molde and Frankfurt

It's another busy week ahead for the Werkself, with two home fixtures in two competitions. On Thursday 14 December, the already-confirmed group winners host Molde FK in the UEFA Europa League on the final matchday of the group stage (kick-off 18:45 CET at the BayArena). That's followed by Matchday 15 of the Bundesliga on Sunday 17 December (17:30 CET), with Eintracht Frankfurt the visitors.

Match stats:

VfB Stuttgart: Nübel – Vagnoman (Rouault 85'), Anton, Zagadou, Mittelstädt (Stergiou 76') – Karazor, Stiller – Millot (Silas 66'), Führich (Leweling 76') – Guirassy, Undav (Jeong 85')

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba – Frimpong, Palacios (Hincapie 84'), Xhaka, Grimaldo – Wirtz, Adli (Hofmann 65') – Boniface (Schick 73')

Goals: 1-0 Führich (40'), 1-1 Wirtz (47')

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)

Yellow cards: Karazor / Kossounou

Attendance: 54,400 at the MHPArena (sold out)