This fixture pits two of the three highest-scoring teams in the current Bundesliga season against each other. Bayer 04 have netted 38 goals, Stuttgart 33. Only FC Bayern Munich (43) have hit the net more often.
A look at previous encounters between the two sides shows that the Werkself enjoy playing against VfB, particularly at their place. Bayer 04 have lost just one of their last 23 competitive games against the Cannstatt club, and they're unbeaten in their last 11 visits to Stuttgart - their longest current unbeaten run away from home against any club. What's more, VfB have suffered their second-most Bundesliga home defeats against Bayer 04.
Stuttgart are enjoying a very successful season, just five points off Bayer 04 at the top of the table. 30 points at this stage of the campaign represents the club's second-best Bundesliga season ever. Key to that success have been an attacking duo who have been in free-scoring form since the start of the season. Serhou Guirassy has netted 16 times in 11 league appearances, while his strike partner Deniz Undav has scored eight goals so far. Including assists, the pair have been directly involved in 29 of Sebastian Hoeneß's team's 33 league goals.
4,000 Bayer 04 fans will be cheering the team on in the Baden-Württemberg state capital. Xabi Alonso thanked the fans for their phenomenal support once again in Friday's press conference: "It's really nice that so many fans are always there - whether away or at home. We feel the enthusiasm of our fans very clearly and are super grateful. We want to play to our best on Sunday and then hopefully celebrate the next win with our fans."
Deniz Aytekin is the referee for today's match. The 45-year-old has officiated 36 competitive games involving Bayer 04 to date. They've resulted in 16 wins, seven draws and 13 losses. Aytekin's assistants are Christian Dietz and Eduard Beitinger, with Robert Schröder as VAR.
Eliminated ahead of the offline round: On Tuesday, 18 November, the Leverkusen console pros played the two remaining matches in the online preliminary round of showdown two. After picking up six points from the first four games last week, the #B04eSports team bagged another three in the two final duels - but it wasn't enough. The Leverkusen team missed out on a place in the offline knockout round, which will take place in this second showdown on 23 November in Frankfurt am Main.
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The VBL Club Championship by WOW 2025/26 continues today, Tuesday 18 November, with the last two of the six online preliminary round matches in the second showdown. Starting at 18:00 CET, Bayer 04 face Karlsruher SC, followed by Borussia Mönchengladbach at 19:00 CET. The games will be streamed live on the Bayer 04 app and on the club Twitch channel. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Just 11 days after their last encounter in the Bundesliga, Bayer 04 Women meet Hamburger SV again. On Sunday (15:00 CET), the two teams will be battling it out at the Volksparkstadion for a place in the DFB Cup quarter-finals. Coach Roberto Pätzold is aware of his team's status as favourites against the promoted outfit - and knows what it will come down to against the awkward opponents.
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Bayer 04 Women goalkeeper Charlotte Voll has been hit by injury again. The 26-year-old suffered an acromioclavicular joint separation in her left shoulder in the latter stages of the Bundesliga match at SC Freiburg on Monday and is set to be sidelined for a number of months. She underwent successful surgery in Düsseldorf on Friday.
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Like they did in the first showdown of the VBL Club Championship by WOW, which the Leverkusen gamers won in spectacular style, Marc and Sean Landwehr also started the second showdown with six points by beating TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum 1848, last-16 participants of the first showdown. The #B04eSports team suffered defeat to SV Darmstadt 98 and Hertha BSC. Meanwhile, Keanu Senkbeil made his VBL CC debut in the clash with the capital club.
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