1-1 in Stuttgart: Pala’s penalty earns point

With injuries and rotation, head coach Xabi Alonso made four changes to his starting line-up compared with the Europa League match at AS Roma: Kerem Demirbay, Mitchel Bakker, Sardar Azmoun and Amine Adli came into the side in place of Robert Andrich, Odilon Kossounou (both injured), Adam Hlozek and Florian Wirtz (both on the bench).

Bayer 04 arrived at the Mercedes-Benz Arena having gone unbeaten in the previous six Bundesliga away games including three wins and three draws on the road. The Werkself were unbeaten in their ten previous visits to Stuttgart (seven wins, three draws). Leverkusen initially focused on moving the ball, controlling the game and defensive solidity while looking to strike on the break. As on six minutes, when Demirbay hit the ball to the far post but Bakker was unable to connect. Shortly after that there was a greater threat through an attack down the left flank: Moussa Diaby cut the ball back but Azmoun failed to convert (8’). The Bayer 04 fans, clad in all red in a packed away section, made themselves heard at the stadium in Stuttgart.

Optical advantage but few chances

VfB, who primarily sought to avoid any risks, created their first chance in front of Lukas Hradecky’s goal after 15 minutes with a cross from the left seeing Wataru Endo failed to connect in the penalty area (17’). At the other end, Edmond Tapsoba just missed getting on the end of a Demirbay free kick (25’). The Black and Reds looked to be on top but found it difficult to attack with pace or find gaps in the Stuttgart defence. The best opportunity for Bayer 04 came immediately before half-time with Azmoun in a one-on-one with keeper Fabian Bredlow and he could have shot but chose the wrong option by attempting to back heel the ball to Adli (45’). The two sides went in at half-time with the score at 0-0.

Palacios gives away and scores penalty 

The hosts took the lead out of the blue twelve minutes after the restart. Exequiel Palacios brought Endo down on the edge of the penalty area and the penalty was converted by Guirassy with a cheeky Panenka to give Stuttgart a 1-0 lead (57’). Xabi Alonso made attacking changes by bringing on Florian Wirtz for Bakker (60’), and the Werkself now played with a back four with Piero Hincapie on the left. Shortly after that, Bredlow knocked over Tapsoba in an aerial duel and, after the intervention of VAR, referee Frank Willenborg rightly awarded a penalty to the Werkself (66’). Palacios, who twice scored from the penalty spot in the 2-1 win against FC Bayern, stepped up and calmly converted with a low and hard shot to the left corner to level at 1-1 (70’). Bayer 04 then had a stroke of fortune when Josha Vagnoman hit a close-range header against the post (71’).

Tapsoba had a chance at the other end but the central defender hit the ball from a Demirbay free kick high over the crossbar (80’). A left-foot shot from Jeremie Frimpong was saved by Bredlow (84’) and Hincapie was called into action at the other end. Bayer 04 made two substitutions with Nadiem Amiri and Adam Hlozek coming on for Adli and Azmoun (88’). The Werkself pressed for the win in the closing stages with shots from Hlozek twice blocked (90+1’/90+3’). Then it was full-time.

first Roma and then Gladbach

Bayer 04 now have the final two home games of the season. The first is on Thursday 18 May at 21.00 CEST in front of a full house at the BayArena for the Europa League semi-final second leg against AS Roma. That is followed in the Bundesliga by the clash with Borussia Mönchengladbach on matchday 33 on Sunday 21 May with the kick-off at 19.30 CEST.

Match stats:

VfB Stuttgart: Bredlow – Anton, Zagadou, Ito – Vagnoman, Karazor, Endo, Sosa (Coulibaly 90’) – Silas (Führich 64’), Tiago Tomas (Millot 74’) – Guirassy

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie – Frimpong, Palacios, Demirbay, Bakker (Wirtz 60’) – Diaby, Azmoun (Hlozek 88’), Adli (Amiri 88’)

Goals: 1-0 Guirassy (57’ pen.), 1-1 Palacios (70’ pen.)

Booked: Anton, Bredlow, Coulibaly – Bakker, Hincapie, Wirtz, Demirbay

Referee: Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück)

Attendance: 46,300