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.
Bayer 04 host Borussia Mönchengladbach at the BayArena on matchday 12 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The schedule for the game remains to be confirmed. The latest information on ticket sales.
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Bayer 04 host Eintracht Frankfurt at the BayArena on matchday 14 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The schedule for the game remains to be confirmed. The latest information on ticket sales.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-1 loss at Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the women's DFB-Pokal 2026/27
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“As far as mentality and determination are concerned, we have nothing to reproach ourselves for,” Robert Andrich said up after the first home defeat for the Werkself this term. In terms of their play, too, the Black and Reds put in a respectable performance for long stretches of this intense and physical match, outperforming VfB Stuttgart in most areas. It was only in terms of efficiency in front of goal that the Swabians had the edge over the Werkself. Head coach Carles Martínez wants to learn from this so that, in future, they can “win this sort of match too”. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career working as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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