3 – 1
“Aleix García punished Stuttgart with a clinical left-footed finish from the centre of the box, assisted by Christian Kofane on a fast break, giving Leverkusen a shock early lead.”
Pivotal“Nikolas Nartey was the architect again after his earlier assist to Undav was saved, this time threading through for Ermedin Demirovic to slot home from the centre of the box and restore parity.”
Pivotal“Edmond Tapsoba brought down Ermedin Demirovic in the penalty area, VAR confirmed the spot-kick, and Maximilian Mittelstädt coolly rolled it into the centre of the goal to give Stuttgart a half-time lead they thoroughly deserved.”
Pivotal“Deniz Undav finished off a Stuttgart counter-attack, meeting Jamie Leweling's cross with a composed right-footed shot into the centre of the goal to make it 3-1 and end the contest.”
Pivotal
VfB Stuttgart
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Outstanding performance
VfB Stuttgart•AttackerVfB Stuttgart were rocked inside the opening minute when Aleix García converted after a Leverkusen fast break, but the home side's response was immediate and telling. Ermedin Demirovic equalised within five minutes courtesy of a sharp Nikolas Nartey assist, and Stuttgart never looked rattled thereafter. The real turning point arrived on the stroke of half-time when Edmond Tapsoba's foul on Demirovic — confirmed by VAR — handed Maximilian Mittelstädt the chance to score from the spot, which he duly converted to send Stuttgart in ahead at the break. The statistics underline Stuttgart's dominance: 20 shots to Leverkusen's six, five big chances created to one, and a dominance rating of 65 compared to Leverkusen's 48, painting the picture of a side that controlled the contest despite never holding the ball more than their opponents. Deniz Undav's composed finish on 58 minutes, set up by Jamie Leweling on the counter, put the result beyond doubt and condemned Leverkusen to a defeat that will sting given the gulf in attacking threat on the day.
How entertaining was this match?
Handball by Ermedin Demirovic of VfB Stuttgart.
Substitution for VfB Stuttgart: Bilal El Khannouss replaces Nikolas Nartey.
Substitution for Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Ernest Poku replaces Christian Kofane due to injury.
Substitution for VfB Stuttgart: Luca Jaquez replaces Maximilian Mittelstädt.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Christian Kofane of Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Foul committed by Jeff Chabot of VfB Stuttgart.
Christian Kofane from Bayer 04 Leverkusen won a free kick on the right wing.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Christian Kofane of Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Corner awarded to Bayer 04 Leverkusen after being conceded by Ramon Hendriks.
Angelo Stiller from VfB Stuttgart committed a foul.
Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer 04 Leverkusen won a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution for VfB Stuttgart: Tiago Tomás replaces Deniz Undav due to injury.
Corner awarded to Bayer 04 Leverkusen after Angelo Stiller concedes.
Substitution for Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Malik Tillman replaces Aleix García.
Substitution for Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Arthur replaces Montrell Culbreath.
Jamie Leweling's shot from outside the box for VfB Stuttgart is blocked.
Chris Führich's shot from outside the box is blocked. Nikolas Nartey provided the assist.
Foul by Jeff Chabot of VfB Stuttgart.
Patrik Schick from Bayer 04 Leverkusen won a free kick on the left wing.
assist: Jamie Leweling
Goal! Deniz Undav scores for VfB Stuttgart with a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the center of the goal. Jamie Leweling provides the assist with a cross after a fast break. The score is now VfB Stuttgart 3, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1.
New attacking attempt. Jeff Chabot of VfB Stuttgart heads the ball from the center of the box, but Mark Flekken of Bayer 04 Leverkusen saves it in the top left corner. The assist came from Maximilian Mittelstädt's cross.
VfB Stuttgart wins a corner after Exequiel Palacios concedes.
VfB Stuttgart wins a corner after Jarell Quansah concedes.
Maximilian Mittelstädt's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. The assist came from Chris Führich.
New attacking attempt. Angelo Stiller from VfB Stuttgart has a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it's saved in the left corner by Mark Flekken from Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The assist comes from Chris Führich.
Deniz Undav of VfB Stuttgart is flagged for offside.
The second half begins with the score at VfB Stuttgart 2, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1.
The first half ends with VfB Stuttgart leading Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-1.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Maximilian Mittelstädt scores for VfB Stuttgart with a left-footed shot to the center of the goal. The match remains 2-1.
VAR decision results in a penalty for VfB Stuttgart.
Penalty awarded to VfB Stuttgart as Ermedin Demirovic is fouled in the penalty area.
Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer 04 Leverkusen concedes a penalty after a foul in the penalty area.
Foul committed by Ibrahim Maza of Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Angelo Stiller from VfB Stuttgart won a free kick on the right wing.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 2 minutes of added time.
Ermedin Demirovic from VfB Stuttgart had a missed opportunity, heading the ball from the center of the box but it went to the left. Nikolas Nartey provided the assist.
Deniz Undav from VfB Stuttgart had a missed chance, shooting with his right foot from the left side of the box after a corner.
VfB Stuttgart wins a corner, conceded by Mark Flekken.
Ermedin Demirovic from VfB Stuttgart attempts an attack, shooting with his right foot from the center of the box, but Mark Flekken from Bayer 04 Leverkusen saves it in the right corner. The assist came from Angelo Stiller.
Exequiel Palacios from Bayer 04 Leverkusen commits a foul.
Jamie Leweling of VfB Stuttgart won a free kick in defense.
Christian Kofane of Bayer 04 Leverkusen won a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by Ramon Hendriks of VfB Stuttgart.
Foul committed by Christian Kofane of Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Ramon Hendriks of VfB Stuttgart won a free kick in defense.
Deniz Undav's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Chris Führich provided the assist.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen wins a corner after Nikolas Nartey concedes.
VfB Stuttgart wins a corner after Montrell Culbreath concedes.
Corner awarded to Bayer 04 Leverkusen after being conceded by Maximilian Mittelstädt.
Ibrahim Maza from Bayer 04 Leverkusen won a free kick in the attacking area.
Fouled by Chema Andres of VfB Stuttgart.
Foul by Nikolas Nartey of VfB Stuttgart.
Exequiel Palacios from Bayer 04 Leverkusen won a free kick in defense.
Christian Kofane from Bayer 04 Leverkusen missed a header from the center of the box. The assist came from Aleix García's cross.
Ermedin Demirovic from VfB Stuttgart had a missed chance, shooting with his right foot from the right side of the box, but it went close and missed the target.
Offside called against VfB Stuttgart. Jamie Leweling is in an offside position.
Ermedin Demirovic from VfB Stuttgart won a free kick in the attacking area.
Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer 04 Leverkusen committed a foul.
Ermedin Demirovic from VfB Stuttgart misses a chance, shooting high and wide to the left with his right foot from the right side of the box. Chema Andres provided the assist with a through ball.
Fouled by Ermedin Demirovic of VfB Stuttgart.
Robert Andrich from Bayer 04 Leverkusen won a free kick in defense.
Deniz Undav of VfB Stuttgart makes an attacking attempt, shooting with his right foot from the left side of the box. The shot is saved by Mark Flekken, the goalkeeper for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who is positioned in the center of the goal. The assist comes from Jeff Chabot.
VfB Stuttgart wins a corner after Edmond Tapsoba concedes.
Ermedin Demirovic's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
Montrell Culbreath of Bayer 04 Leverkusen attempts a header from the center of the box, but it's saved in the top center of the goal by Alexander Nübel of VfB Stuttgart. The assist comes from Ibrahim Maza's cross.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Angelo Stiller of VfB Stuttgart.
Deniz Undav's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The assist came from Ermedin Demirovic.
New attacking attempt. Ibrahim Maza from Bayer 04 Leverkusen takes a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved by goalkeeper Alexander Nübel from VfB Stuttgart, who is positioned in the center of the goal. The assist comes from Christian Kofane.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen wins a corner after Maximilian Mittelstädt concedes.
Angelo Stiller from VfB Stuttgart won a free kick in an attacking position.
Christian Kofane from Bayer 04 Leverkusen committed a foul.
VfB Stuttgart have been awarded a corner after Robert Andrich conceded it.
Deniz Undav's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Angelo Stiller provided the assist.
Christian Kofane from Bayer 04 Leverkusen won a free kick in an attacking position.
Foul committed by Ramon Hendriks of VfB Stuttgart.
Maximilian Mittelstädt of VfB Stuttgart missed a chance with a left-footed shot from outside the box, assisted by Angelo Stiller.
assist: Nikolas Nartey
Goal! Ermedin Demirovic scores for VfB Stuttgart with a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the left corner, assisted by Nikolas Nartey. The match is now 1-1.
Deniz Undav from VfB Stuttgart makes an attacking attempt with a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it is saved in the left corner by Mark Flekken of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The assist comes from Nikolas Nartey.
assist: Christian Kofane
Goal! Bayer 04 Leverkusen takes the lead 1-0 with Aleix García scoring from the center of the box with a left-footed shot into the left corner, assisted by Christian Kofane after a fast break.
Locked level on 58 points, Stuttgart and Leverkusen meet at the MHPArena in a winner-takes-all battle for fourth place and Champions League qualification. Stuttgart arrive riding high after thrashing Leverkusen 4-1 in the reverse fixture, while Leverkusen's Patrik Schick is in blistering form with a recent hat-trick. Expect goals, drama, and European dreams on the line.
