VfB Stuttgart - Bayer 04 Leverkusen: direct battle for fourth place
VfB Stuttgart and Bayer 04 Leverkusen enter the penultimate Bundesliga round with exactly the same number of points, but with a different sense of pressure. Leverkusen is in 4th place with 58 points and a goal difference of +23, Stuttgart is right behind with also 58 points and a goal difference of +20, while TSG Hoffenheim has the same points tally and is waiting for any slip-up. In practice, this is a match that can decide who will enter the final round with the best position in the fight for the Champions League. Tickets for this encounter are in demand among fans.
Kicker lists the match as a fixture of the 33rd round, starting at 15:30 at the MHP-Arena in Stuttgart. The same source, in the direct Bundesliga head-to-head record, lists 89 matches: Stuttgart has 24 wins, 24 meetings ended in draws, and Leverkusen has 41 wins. This is not just a piece of data for statisticians. Leverkusen comes into this duel with a long historical advantage, but Stuttgart this season at home has enough attacking quality not to behave like an outsider.
What is at stake
This is not a match in which the story comes down to prestige. After 32 matches played, Stuttgart and Leverkusen both have 58 points, with 17 wins, 7 draws and 8 defeats each. The difference is in the details: Leverkusen has scored 66 and conceded 43 goals, Stuttgart has scored 66 and conceded 46. Three goals of difference in the table may sound small, but in a race that is decided in the final two rounds, they can be a huge reserve.
- Leverkusen: 4th place, 32 matches, 58 points, goal difference +23.
- Stuttgart: 5th place, 32 matches, 58 points, goal difference +20.
- Hoffenheim: 6th place, 32 matches, 58 points, goal difference +16.
- Stuttgart and Leverkusen have each scored 66 league goals.
- Leverkusen has a small advantage because of a goal difference better by three goals.
For Stuttgart it is especially important that the match is played at the MHPArena, where the crowd can turn the game into a very unpleasant test for the visitors. For Leverkusen, the key thing is a cool head: a win would push them one step from the goal, a draw would keep the tension until the final round, and a defeat would put them behind a direct rival. Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly.
Form: Stuttgart scores, Leverkusen rises after a difficult run
Stuttgart, in the last five matches according to FotMob, drew 3:3 away at Hoffenheim, 1:1 against Werder Bremen, won 2:1 against Freiburg, lost 4:2 away at Bayern München and beat Hamburger SV 4:0. It is a run with 12 goals scored, but also with a clear message for coach Sebastian Hoeneß: the defense must be firmer if Stuttgart wants to beat a team that has enough players to punish every mistake between the lines.
Leverkusen, in their last five league appearances, had wins of 4:1 against RB Leipzig, 2:1 away at 1. FC Köln and 1:0 away at Borussia Dortmund, but also defeats of 0:2 against Bayern München and 1:2 against Augsburg. That is 8 goals in five matches. It is not a perfect run, but the 4:1 win against Leipzig immediately before the trip to Stuttgart looks like a timely impulse.
- Stuttgart last 5: Hoffenheim 3:3, Werder 1:1, Freiburg 2:1, Bayern 4:2, Hamburger SV 4:0.
- Leverkusen last 5: RB Leipzig 4:1, 1. FC Köln 1:2, Bayern 0:2, Augsburg 1:2, Borussia Dortmund 0:1.
- Stuttgart scored 12 goals in that run.
- Leverkusen scored 8 goals in that run.
- FotMob states that both teams average 2.1 goals per match.
Key Stuttgart players
Stuttgart’s attacking picture this season is seen most clearly through Deniz Undav. ESPN, in Stuttgart’s seasonal squad, lists 18 league goals and 5 assists for Undav, along with 112 shots and 43 shots on target. This is the profile of a striker who does not live only from one chance per match. He constantly gets into finishing positions, constantly looks for space and constantly forces center-backs to play under pressure.
Ermedin Demirovic provides a different layer. His 10 goals and 3 assists make him an important partner in the final third, especially when Stuttgart wants to play more directly and attack the space behind the last line. Jamie Leweling, with 7 goals and 7 assists, brings width and speed, while Chris Führich, with 6 goals and 6 assists, remains one of the players who can break a block with a dribble or an inward run from the left side.
In midfield, Angelo Stiller is one of the most important figures. ESPN records 31 appearances, 2 goals and 5 assists for him, and German sources these days are writing about his importance in the context of Stuttgart’s fight for the Champions League. Stiller is not a player who has to dominate the headlines in order to dominate the rhythm. He is important in the first pass, in calming possession and in setting the tempo when Stuttgart must not lose control.
Leverkusen’s threats: Schick, Grimaldo and a midfield that knows how to wait for a mistake
For Leverkusen, the attack relies most on Patrik Schick. ESPN lists 13 league goals and 3 assists for him, and FotMob singles him out as the player with the most shots on target per match for Leverkusen. That is especially important against Stuttgart, because the home side can leave space when the full-backs move high forward. Schick does not need ten touches to create a chance.
Alejandro Grimaldo is the second major problem for the home side. ESPN records 8 goals and 7 assists for him, which is an exceptionally dangerous output for a player from the back line. He changes the rhythm of a match with a cross, a set piece and a move into the half-space. If Stuttgart allows Leverkusen to calmly switch the ball from side to side, Grimaldo can get too much time for the final ball.
In midfield Leverkusen has Robert Andrich, Aleix García, Exequiel Palacios and Malik Tillman as different profiles for different phases of the match. Andrich is useful in duels and in protecting the defense, García in passing and moving the play, Palacios in controlling space, and Tillman in runs from the second line. Such a mix explains why Leverkusen, even in matches that do not look fluid, often finds a way to be dangerous.
Absences and doubts
According to FotMob, Stuttgart has four unavailable players for this match: Ameen Al Dakhil, Finn Jeltsch, Justin Diehl and Lazar Jovanovic. For Leverkusen, Lucas Vázquez and Martin Terrier are listed. These are details that should be read with caution because player statuses can change during the week of the match, but the current picture says that both teams enter the encounter without part of their rotation.
- Stuttgart: Ameen Al Dakhil - injury.
- Stuttgart: Finn Jeltsch - injury.
- Stuttgart: Justin Diehl - injury.
- Stuttgart: Lazar Jovanovic - injury.
- Leverkusen: Lucas Vázquez and Martin Terrier - injuries.
For Stuttgart, disciplined defending without unnecessary cards in midfield is additionally important. In matches with stakes like this, it is often not only a big chance that decides things, but also a lost duel 40 meters from goal, a set piece after an unnecessary foul or a poor reaction to the second ball. Hoeneß’s team has enough offensive talent, but against Leverkusen it must be equally serious in recovery runs.
Tactical picture: Stuttgart’s width against Leverkusen’s control
Stuttgart will find it difficult to play passively in front of their fans. With players such as Leweling, Führich, Mittelstädt and Undav, the home side has a natural tendency to attack the flanks, arrive from the second line and create congestion around the penalty area. The problem is that such football requires perfect balance. If a full-back goes high and the midfield does not close the space behind him, Leverkusen can quickly switch play.
Leverkusen will probably try to slow Stuttgart’s first waves and force the home side to attack through an organized defense. The visitors are comfortable in a match in which they can control the middle, draw Stuttgart toward one side and then change the point of attack. Schick in the penalty area, Grimaldo on the left side and players arriving from the second line make a combination that does not need a large number of chances to be effective.
The most interesting part of the match could be the space around Stiller’s zone. If Stuttgart’s midfield gets enough time for a vertical pass toward Undav and Demirovic, Leverkusen’s back line will be under constant pressure. If Leverkusen closes that channel and forces the home side into wide, slow attacks, Stuttgart will have to look for solutions through the individual quality of Führich and Leweling.
MHPArena and the fans’ day in Stuttgart
MHPArena is located at Mercedesstraße 87, in the NeckarPark area, close to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Cannstatter Wasen and the Neckar river. TFC Stadiums lists a capacity of 60,058 seats, while FotMob shows a capacity of 60,469 for the match. The difference in numbers depends on the method of counting and configuration, but for a fan one thing is important: this is a large stadium, with a lot of traffic around the arena and with a need to plan arrival earlier.
Stuttgart as a city offers a good setting for visiting fans. The center around Schlossplatz and Königstraße is well connected by public transport, and the area around NeckarPark is used to major sporting and concert events. Those who come by train can usually combine the main station, S-Bahn and a short walk toward the stadium. Those who come by car must count on congestion before and after the match.
- Stadium address: Mercedesstraße 87, Stuttgart.
- Nearest important transport points: NeckarPark and Bad Cannstatt.
- S-Bahn: from the direction of the main station, use S1 toward Neckarpark (Mercedes-Benz) or S2/S3 toward Bad Cannstatt.
- Bus 45 runs from Bad Cannstatt toward NeckarPark (Stadion).
- For cyclists, the Neckartalradweg is listed along the arena area.
It is worth securing tickets in time, especially because this is a match in which the home fans can directly help Stuttgart in the fight for fourth place. The stands in Stuttgart know how to react to every duel won, and against Leverkusen the opening minutes will be especially important. If the home side imposes the rhythm early, the stadium can further increase the pressure on the visitors.
Arrival, parking and entrances
MHP Arena Stuttgart, in its arrival information, states that the stadium can be reached by public transport, bicycle, car and a Park & Ride combination. For cars, traffic is directed through the NeckarPark system, with arrivals from the B10 or B14 direction. There are public parking lots in the Mercedesstraße area, and additional options depend on the traffic regime on matchday.
Park & Ride is a more practical option for many visitors who do not want to enter the busiest part of the city by car. The arena lists P+R locations connected by the S-Bahn network, including Plochingen, Waiblingen, Winnenden, Backnang, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Leonberg, Goldberg, Herrenberg, Gärtringen and Leinfelden. The journey to the arena from these locations takes roughly 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the starting point.
- By car: the NeckarPark traffic system leads toward the stadium via the B10 or B14.
- Park & Ride: a good option for arriving from outside the densest urban area.
- Accessible parking spaces: P7, P2a and P10 are listed for vehicles with a blue permit.
- Bicycle: the Neckartalradweg passes along the stadium area.
- Arriving earlier reduces the risk of congestion around Mercedesstraße and Cannstatter Wasen.
The exact schedule for the opening of entrances for this match should be checked immediately before departure, because operational information can change according to the security plan and expected number of spectators. For fans, the smartest thing is to arrive early enough to avoid the final wave at the checks, especially if they are carrying bags or coming with children.
The atmosphere to expect
This is the type of match in which nervousness can be felt even before the first whistle. Stuttgart has a direct rival in front of them, the same number of points and a chance to enter the final round ahead of Leverkusen. The fans will recognize every sliding tackle, every press on the goalkeeper and every long ball that pushes the visitors toward their own penalty area.
Leverkusen, on the other hand, arrives with a better historical record and with players who are used to playing high-pressure matches. It will not bother them if the stadium is loud. It could even suit them if Stuttgart gets carried away by emotion and opens up too much space. That is why this is a match for patient fans: it does not have to be settled in the first 20 minutes, but in those 20 minutes the tone of the entire afternoon can be set.
Ticket sales for this match are underway. Anyone planning a trip to Stuttgart should take into account that this is a Saturday slot, a large stadium and a duel that directly touches the top of the table. The best plan is simple: arrive earlier, use public transport whenever possible and leave enough time to enter the stand.
What to pay special attention to
The first thing is the duel Undav - Leverkusen’s back line. If Undav receives two or three balls early in a dangerous zone, Stuttgart will get what it wants: the crowd on its feet and the visiting defense under constant pressure. The second thing is Grimaldo’s side. Every foul near the penalty area and every free cross from the left side can be a problem for the home side.
The third thing is emotional control. In a match for fourth place, it often happens that the team that looks better loses rhythm after one refereeing decision, one card or one missed chance. Stuttgart must maintain energy, but must not become wild. Leverkusen must stay calm, but must not surrender territory to the home side. It is precisely that tension that makes the encounter at the MHPArena one of the most important in the closing stage of the Bundesliga season.
Sources:
- VfB Stuttgart, Bundesliga table 2025/2026: standings, points, goal difference and positions of Stuttgart, Leverkusen and Hoffenheim were used.
- Kicker, Spielinfo VfB Stuttgart - Bayer 04 Leverkusen: match date and time, stadium, 33rd round and direct Bundesliga head-to-head record of 89 matches, 24-24-41 were used.
- FotMob, VfB Stuttgart vs Bayer Leverkusen: form from the last five matches, unavailable players, H2H record, capacity shown for the match and average goals data were used.
- ESPN, squad pages for VfB Stuttgart and Bayer 04 Leverkusen: seasonal player outputs were used for players such as Deniz Undav, Ermedin Demirovic, Jamie Leweling, Chris Führich, Angelo Stiller, Patrik Schick and Alejandro Grimaldo.
- MHP Arena Stuttgart, Anreise- und Parkmöglichkeiten: information on public transport, S-Bahn lines, bus 45, Park & Ride options, parking and arrival by bicycle was used.
- TFC Stadiums, MHPArena: information on the stadium, capacity of 60,058, grass surface, city and basic arena context was used.