The Stuttgarter Nachrichten described Leno as the match-winner: "In his time as the architect of the Bayer Leverkusen squad, Michael Reschke brought Bernd Leno from VfB to Bayer Leverkusen. He probably regretted that move once or twice on Friday. 'We were unlucky to come up against an outstanding Bernd Leno,' said the current sporting director at VfB. When Stuttgart were pressing after the break, it was the Leverkusen keeper, brought through the ranks at VfB, who frustrated the hosts. With three or four impressive saves he kept his team in front and secured the victory. The whistles from the Stuttgart fans helped inspire him: ' When they have a go at you in your hometown – there can't be greater motivation.'"
The Kölnische Rundschau opts for the headline: 'Bayer crack the Stuttgart fortress' and looks at the stats: "For Stuttgart, who have not won any of the last 13 games against Leverkusen, it was the 600th defeat in the Bundesliga and the first at home since 18 December 2016."
The Bild Zeitung focuses on the most unpleasant moment of the game: "More trouble with the video ref! In Leverkusen's 2-0 win at Stuttgart, there was a huge kerfuffle after a brutal foul on Germany international Julian Brandt (21). 70th minute: The Argentinian 'poison dwarf' Santiago Ascacibar (20) crashed into the ankle of the Leverkusen player with full force. The whole Bayer bench jumped up, clearly a red card – but the ref Aytekin only produced a yellow. Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler (57) on Eurosport: 'I ask myself: Where was the video assistant?' TV pundit Matthias Sammer (50): ' A clear mistake: This decision was totally wrong. It was a brutal foul!' Leverkusen general manager Jonas Boldt (35): ' Everybody saw the foul. I don't understand why they didn't take a look at it.'... Brandt suffered a flesh wound and after the game hobbled onto the team bus. Völler: '' It's important that Brandt didn't suffer more severe injury.' Hard to take: Last week Wendell (24) was sent off for a similar foul on Dortmund's Gonzalo Castro (30) after the video evidence was consulted and he received a four-match ban with one game suspended.
Kicker sums up the 90 minutes at the Mercedes-Benz Arena as follows: "Bayer Leverkusen secured a 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart on Friday night. One early and one late goal sealed the away win for Bayer who were troubled by VfB at times. Leno prevented the Werkself going behind on several occasions to inflict the first home defeat of the season on Stuttgart."
The Kölner Stadt Anzeiger describes the opening goal: "Stuttgart showed massive respect and Bayer 04 looked very secure in a very solid 3-4-3 formation. And it was evident why after 20 minutes. Then a piece of excellent football came out of the blue up front on the left. The outstanding Leon Bailey beat three Stuttgart players with the ball at his feet with ease as he saw Kai Havertz running into the box. The pin-point pass reached the shooting boot of the 18-year-old who calmly tucked the ball into the back of the net." Bernd Leno was also named as man of the match here – with the following explanation: "Fantastic, heroic saves."
