Leverkusen vs Stuttgart Prediction
🔊 The battle for a Champions League spot intensifies in the 16th round of the Bundesliga as Bayer Leverkusen take on Stuttgart. The "Swabians" trail the "Pharmacists" by just three points, positioning themselves to potentially break into the top four. However, the match will be held at the BayArena, where the hosts have not lost to their upcoming opponents in over five years. Can the visitors end this streak? We'll assess the odds and offer an insightful prediction from our editorial team.
Head-to-Head
📊 Surprisingly, Stuttgart haven't claimed a victory over Bayer in the last five years. Their last win came back in 2018, right at the "BayArena." Since then, 15 matches have passed, with the "Swabians" managing to draw only five of them. Nonetheless, both teams found the net in 11 of those encounters.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Bayer Leverkusen Team Overview
Bayer have climbed into the top three of the Bundesliga for the second time this season. Their recent success came just three matchdays ago. Throughout most of the campaign, the Leverkusen side have maintained a spot in the top five. However, aiming for anything beyond second place seems unlikely, as they trail by three points and Bayern have secured the top position with an eight-point lead over their nearest rivals.
In their latest outing, Kasper Hjulmand's squad secured an impressive away victory against Leipzig. The match was a spectacle, with both teams combining for 34 shots, and the hosts holding a slight edge in xG (2.25 to 2.14). However, the visitors excelled in finishing, taking control of the scoreline by halftime and sealing a 3-1 win with a late goal in stoppage time of the second half.
Match Results: Bayer Leverkusen
Stuttgart Team Overview
The "Swabians," much like the "Pharmacists," found themselves in the top three earlier this season. However, over the course of eight matchdays, Stuttgart have slipped to sixth place. Nevertheless, being in the UEFA Conference League zone is progress compared to last season's Bundesliga campaign, where they secured a Europa League spot thanks to their German Cup victory. Notably, they are just three points behind the top four.
In the final match before the New Year, Sebastian Hoeneß's side hosted Hoffenheim, who sit one point ahead in the standings. The hosts were more effective in attack, outshooting their opponents (10 to 4) and leading in expected goals (1.09 to 0.19). However, neither team managed to find the back of the net, resulting in a goalless draw (0-0).
Match Results: Stuttgart
Latest news
Bayer Leverkusen
🎙 Bayer Leverkusen's Jonas Hofmann has outlined his team's ambitions ahead of the Bundesliga's resumption. "Our aim should be to finish in the top four of the league. Many would agree with that. We've also reached the quarter-finals of the cup-just two games away from Berlin, and we want to get there again. In the Champions League, we have a good chance of advancing to the knockout stages. Last year, we showed what we're capable of," said the 33-year-old midfielder.
❌ Bayer's list of unavailable players is gradually shrinking. Ibrahim Maza, Edmond Tapsoba, and Eliesse Ben-Seghir are still competing in the Africa Cup of Nations. There are still doubts about the participation of Lucas Vazquez and Ernest Poku in the upcoming round-the medical team is assessing the readiness of these previously injured players.
Stuttgart
🎙 Stuttgart's head coach expressed his disappointment after dropping points against Hoffenheim. "We spent a lot of time in their half and made an incredible number of passes. The quality wasn't at the level it should have been, but we did have a presence in the penalty area. We created plenty of chances to score. That should be enough to possibly get a goal and ultimately win the game. We don't have enough points to be satisfied, and those points could have been earned in this match," said Sebastian Hoeneß.
❌ Bilal El Khannous continues his quest for the Africa Cup of Nations. Stuttgart's injury list is not empty either, with Luka Harkes, Tiago Tomas, and Dan-Axel Zagadou all sidelined. There are still questions surrounding the fitness of Finn Ehlert and Lazar Jovanovic.
🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards
The main referee for the match is Daniel Schlager. His average number of yellow cards in the last 20 Bundesliga matches stands at 3.2. However, the upcoming game might see more action for the referee: in 8 out of the last 10 head-to-head encounters between these teams, there were at least five yellow cards shown. Additionally, the clubs are separated by just one win in the league standings. With a Champions League spot on the line, the intensity is expected to be sky-high. Our prediction: total yellow cards over 3.5.
⚽️ Goal Prediction
Leverkusen, despite being third in the table, is the second-highest scoring team in the Bundesliga with 33 goals in 15 matches (averaging 2.2 per game). Their high level of creativity is particularly evident in home games, where they've scored at least two goals in six of their seven matches. Stuttgart, on the other hand, has managed to score in all seven of their away games across all competitions. Therefore, betting on both teams to score (yes) seems like a well-founded prediction.
🚩 Corner Prediction
Sebastian Hoeneß has experimented with three different formations in the last three Bundesliga rounds, ranging from 3-4-2-1 to 4-3-3. He even dared to use the latter against formidable Bayern. However, the most frequently used setup is a versatile 4-2-3-1. This tactical flexibility and focus on wing play allow Stuttgart to create numerous opportunities in the opponent's final third, including from set-pieces. Stuttgart leads the Bundesliga in average corners won away from home over eight rounds. Given these factors, we expect the bet on Stuttgart total corners over 4.5 to come through.
Editorial Prediction
Stuttgart have a dismal head-to-head record against Bayer Leverkusen, but in recent years, the Swabians have at least managed to escape the BayArena with a minimal tally of points: in three consecutive matches, to be precise. So, we wouldn't bet on a definitive outcome here, but rather focus on the fact that these teams often trade goals: in 11 of their last 15 encounters, to be exact. However, given Bayer's historical dominance over their opponents, we anticipate the hosts will tilt the result in their favor once more (2-1). Interestingly, the "Pharmacists" have scored at least two goals in 16 of their last 18 meetings with Stuttgart, making the total goals for Bayer over 1.5 a likely outcome.
Betting Tips: Bayer Leverkusen - Stuttgart
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Comparison of Teams Stats
Other predictions
