Leverkusen against Stuttgart: Who stops the curse?

Leverkusen against Stuttgart: Who stops the curse?

On Sunday evening, Bayer Leverkusen will play the next Bundesliga game against VfB Stuttgart. The team of coach Xabi Alonso is under pressure after it has left 0: 3 in the Champions League against Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening. Despite the disappointment with the defeat, it is not considered a downfall, since Leverkusen had impressed in the group phase by performing as the best German association and, among other things, defeated both Milan clubs. This was the first move into the knockout round since the 2016/17 season, which increased the expectations and hopes of the fans to the team.

In the league, however, the situation for Leverkusen worsened when one had to accept a bitter defeat against Werder Bremen. Individual mistakes and a lack of focus were identified as the main reasons. These setbacks culminated in a worrying trend: Leverkusen remained in the last three competitive games without a goal. The violation of Florian Wirtz, the decisive impulses for the team, can be particularly worrying, but is for the time being.

The challenge of Stuttgart

VfB Stuttgart has only won once in the last seven league games, but showed an appealing performance against Bavaria. Therefore, the upcoming duel is considered a tactically demanding game without clear favorites. Leverkusen's strengths lie in the possession and counter game, while weaknesses were found on the defensive. Even if the chances of defending the title in the 2024/25 Bundesliga season are assessed as realistic, the goal remains to secure the vice championship early.

The perspectives of the coach Xabi Alonso for the next season will also be discussed. While he is expected to stay a year, Sebastian Hoeneß is mentioned as a potential successor. Alonso already has experience with comebacks from his time at Liverpool, which gives fans hope that a turn can be brought about.

A look at the statistics

Leverkusen had decidedly lost the first meeting with Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but remains optimistic about the second leg. Last season Leverkusen won 3-0 in the DFB Cup and in the Bundesliga against Bayern. In this game, Josip Stanišić, Álex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong scored the goals. Ten of the eleven players from this game are still in the squad, only Wirtz is missing due to his injury.

with Patrik Schick, who scored 16 goals in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen could mobilize the necessary offensive power. Fate of historical talent in European competitions has already been demonstrated several times, which may give fans new hope.

The Bundesliga is known for its high competitiveness and attracts numerous spectators every week. Bayer Leverkusen, currently reigning champion, wants to continue to assert itself in this strong league. The longing for a new title and the hope of a successful performance in the DFB Cup are still high.

The expectations for the coming game are an exciting 2: 2, since both teams have mastered similar challenges. It remains to be seen which of the two teams will ultimately triumph.

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