Highlights
D. Siebert
0:08
Chase praises Nübel
Full-time: Leverkusen 0-0 Stuttgart
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Axel Kohring
Full-time
90'
Added time
Three minutes for either side to find a winner. Leverkusen are on the attack, winning a couple of corners, with Schick claiming a penalty from one of them. The referee is unmoved, though.
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
87'
Triple change
And all players who came up with some crucial late goals last term. With time running out, will it be another famous case of Better Late than Neverkusen?
86'
Substitution
86'
Substitution
86'
Substitution
84'
Cavalry?
Schick's about to come on for Bayer. The Czech striker scored an 88th-minute equaliser in the Supercup in the summer as Leverkusen fought back to beat Stuttgart on penalties...
81'
Bayer survive
Hrádecký dives low to make a strong save from Führich, who's been superb since coming on. A Leverkusen defender then stops Undav from doing more on the follow-up. Stuttgart beginning to feel like they can nick this...
80'
Plan B
Demirović replaces Touré, who hasn't been able to get into the game. There's also a Bundesliga debut in defence for Iraq-born Belgian Ameen Al-Dakhil, with Millot - an attacker - getting the hook.
80'
Substitution
80'
Substitution
77'
Worth a try
There's nothing really on for Wirtz on the edge of the VfB area, other than a shot that sneaks through and forces a routine diving save from Nübel.
75'
Stiller has a crack!
Stiller smashes over from range. Sweetly struck - it just wouldn't come down.
75'
Goalkeeper Efficiency of Alexander Nübel
Goalkeeper Efficiency
Goalkeeper Efficiency compares the number of saves a goalkeeper makes with his expected saves (xSaves). xSaves is calculated with the help of artificial intelligence. When a goalkeeper has a positive efficiency value, it means he has saved more shots than statistically expected.
1.7
Saves4
xSaves2.3
74'
Nübel makes himself big
Superb goalkeeping to prevent Boniface capping a bulldozing run with the opening goal.
73'
Hairy moment
Hrádecký comes a long way from goal in an attempt to stop Undav doing some damage. His positioning is a little suspect and Frimpong steps in to take control of the situation.
Not Leverkusen's night so far
© IMAGO/Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO
66'
Wide!
Massive chance for Leverkusen as Wirtz whips a telling cross towards the edge of the six-yard box. Frimpong meets it, but heads the wrong side of the upright. He's furious with himself!
64'
Set-piece danger!
Andrich heads on a Grimaldo free-kick, with Chase helping it away from danger and behind. The Stuttgart defender is the man to clear the ensuing corner.
63'
Pressure Handling
Pressure Handling
This Match Fact examines how successfully players perform under pressure. The percentage of "solved situations" indicates how often a player has freed himself from opponent pressure by dribbling, passing, scoring a goal or drawing a foul.
69%
%
Jeremie Frimpong
13 times under pressure
61'
Wide from Undav!
Führich is involved almost immediately, combining with Undav, who's been anonymous until now. The Stuttgart striker tries to find the far corner, but his dinked effort goes wide.
59'
Changes
Mittelstädt hobbles off, with Hendriks on at left-back. Further forward, Rieder - brought on for the injured Leweling in the eighth minute - is replaced by Führich.
58'
Substitution
58'
Substitution
57'
Sniff of goal
Stuttgart get in behind after a Wirtz pass is packed off. Mittelstädt tries to arrow a shot across goal, but Tah slides in to make a crucial block.
54'
Hofmann on
Mukiele was struggling a bit - he's replaced by Hofmann in a move that'll likely see Frimpong revert to wing-back.
54'
Substitution
52'
Post!
Boniface races away following another defensive error by Chase. He strikes it well, but can only find the outside of Nübel's left-hand post.
48'
Handball appeal
Boniface and Tah go up at the far post to meet a corner. The ball is blocked by some part of Vagnoman - just not a hand, according to the match official.
46'
No changes
After some YMCA in the tunnel and techno as the Leverkusen players returned to the pitch, we are back under way. Both sides as they were...
Kick-off!
Half-time: Leverkusen 0-0 Stuttgart
© IMAGO/Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO
Half-time
45'
Great save!
Nübel scrambles across his line to block Boniface's close-range attempt from a corner.
44'
Chance!
Leverkusen are on the attack again with Frimpong. He finds Boniface unmarked, but the Nigerian miscues his attempted shot at goal.
43'
Into the book
Momentary respite for VfB as Mukiele is penalised for bringing down Millot.
41'
Off the bar!
Grimaldo pounces on a heavy touch from Chase. Boniface is to his right, but Stuttgart get men back to scramble the ball out for a corner that comes to nothing. Leverkusen recycle possession, though, with Andrich having a shot blocked behind. Tapsoba rises highest at the near post to meet the ensuing corner, the Bayer defender flicking a header against the top of the crossbar.
38'
Close!
Boniface throws a boot towards a superb in-swinging cross from Wirtz. It only needs a touch, but he can't get a toe on it. Maybe he should have lead with his head instead...
36'
Denied!
Karazor does really well on the stretch to stop Frimpong's cross from finding a teammate in the area. Mittelstädt then gets in front of Wirtz to stop the Leverkusen star stealing in to meet Grimaldo's searching ball in towards the penalty spot.
35'
Expected Goals
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
0.78
0.0
0
Goals
33'
Relief for Stuttgart!
Boniface races clear and feeds Frimpong for an emphatic first-time finish. It's chalked off, though - Boniface was offside and let the ball go out before crossing into the box.
32'
SituationNo goal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionNo goal
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
28'
Nervy moment
Chase is caught out trying to play forward from the back. Grimaldo picks it up and sends in a low cross that Nübel spills - but it's shovelled clear before a red shirt can take advantage.
Strong start
© Dean Mouhtaropoulos
20'
Leverkusen in charge
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
0.75
0.0
0
Goals
20'
Goal attempts
2off target
2on target
0off target
0on target
18'
Close!
Mittelstädt blocks a dangerous pass into the six-yard box at the expense of a corner. Grimaldo finds Tapsoba, who flicks a near-post header with his back to goal wide. Let-off for the visitors.
15'
Chase on the case
Stuttgart are undone again as Boniface wriggles clear in the penalty area. He finds the feet of the unmarked Wirtz, but VfB young pup Chase slides in to block the shot. It's all Leverkusen...
14'
Nübel again!
Leverkusen find more joy playing through the Stuttgart defence. Hincapié cuts a pass back into the box for Grimaldo, who draws another good diving save out of Nübel.
11'
Frimpong!
Frimpong is first to react to a long ball over the top of the Stuttgart defence. It's on his weaker left side, but he gets off a decent shot that forces a strong block from Nübel. A defender then shovels the loose ball clear.
8'
There's the change
Stuttgart had a lot of defending to do whilst Leweling was off. The recently capped Germany international won't return. Fabian Rieder is his replacement.
8'
Substitution
4'
Leweling concern
The Stuttgart forward drives away from Hincapié, before pulling up lame. He clearly felt something go and is holding his left hamstring as he leaves the field of play for further treatment...
3'
Magic feet
Wirtz skips away from two Stuttgart players on halfway, but Frimpong is miles offside when he receives the pass. Still, that's a warning for VfB.
1'
Matchday 9 under way!
Huge game in Leverkusen. It should be a cracker...
Kick-off!
Players out
Karazor wins the coin toss for Stuttgart. They'll have their own fans in the corner behind Nübel's goal for the first half.
Table talk
Leverkusen can close the gap on the top two to two points, overnight at least, with a win. Stuttgart begin the day three points behind third-placed Bayer, in seventh.
More on those teams
Martin Terrier misses out for Leverkusen, with Nordi Mukiele coming in and Jeremie Frimpong deployed in a more advance role. That's one of seven changes Alonso has made to the team that beat Elversberg 3-0 in the DFB Cup in midweek. Hoeneß also reverts to his A-team following Stuttgart's cup victory against Kaiserslautern on Tuesday. Goalkeeper Alexander Nübel and strikers Deniz Undav and El-Bilal Touré are among the players recalled.
Leverkusen starting line-up
Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Mukiele, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Frimpong, Wirtz - Boniface
Leverkusen subs
Kovář, Lomb, Arthur, Hofmann, García, Palacios, Schick, Tella, Onyeka
Stuttgart starting line-up
Nübel - Vagnoman, Chase, Rouault, Mittelstädt - Millot, Karazor (c), Stiller, Leweling - Touré, Undav
Stuttgart subs
Bredlow, Al-Dakhil, Hendriks, Krätzig, Stenzel, Führich, Rieder, Woltemade, Demirović
Sebastian Hoeneß's view on Bayer Leverkusen
© DFL/Getty Images/Christian Kaspar-Bartke
Xabi Alonso's view on Stuttgart
© IMAGO/Michael Weber IMAGEPOWER
2:03
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