Overview
Both Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart enjoyed solid results in the German Cup in midweek, with the Bundesliga champions beating lower-league Elversberg 3-0, while the visitors from the Ruhr region also claimed a 2-1 win over Kaiserslautern.
Coach Xabi Alonso's team has been playing a bit worse than last season. Before the win over Elversberg, they were held to draws by Brest and Bremen. Meanwhile, Stuttgart have won three consecutive matches in all competitions. Notably, they defeated Juventus in the Champions League group stage.
In recent years, Stuttgart have not been afraid to travel to Leverkusen's BayArena. They have held their opponents to a draw in their last two away games at this stadium. Furthermore, Leverkusen and Stuttgart have drawn in four of their last five encounters, showing the balance of this match.
The most recent meeting between the two teams was in the German Super Cup earlier this season, a match which Bayer Leverkusen won on penalties.
Stuttgart are not an easy opponent to bully, having finished in the top 4 of the Bundesliga last season. They are capable of getting 1 point against Leverkusen at the BayArena. Besides, this is also a match that is expected to have few goals.
Two of the Bundesliga's best strikers will be in action at the BayArena, with Stuttgart's Ermedin Demirovic and Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Bonfice.
Demirovic has scored five goals in his first six games for Stuttgart since joining this summer, while Boniface has six goals in eight league appearances this season.
Human resources situation
Bayer Leverkusen will definitely be without Amine Adli, who is recovering from a foot injury. Meanwhile, Jeanuel Belocian remains doubtful.
On the other side of the front line, Stuttgart have more problems than their opponents when Jeff Chabot is out due to injury. Luca Raimond and Dan-Axel Zagadou are also absent for the same reason.
Expected lineup:
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo,Terrier, Wirtz, Boniface.
Stuttgart: Nubel, Vagnoman, Chase, Rouault, Mittelstadt, Millot, Karazor, Stiller, Leweling, Demirovic, Undav.
The match between Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart takes place at 2:30 a.m. on November 2 (Vietnam time).
