Champions Bayer Leverkusen have no option but to win on Sunday when they travel to MHPArena to play Stuttgart in their 26th Bundesliga game of the season.
Eighth-placed Stuttgart have hopes of qualifying for the Champions League given their tally of 37 points is five fewer than fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, while Leverkusen are second with 53 points and trail Bayern Munich by eight points following their 2-0 loss against Werder Bremen on March 8.
Match preview
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The home team drew 2-2 with Holstein Kiel on March 8 and despite trailing 2-1 when they were reduced to 10 men in the 53rd minute, they scored two minutes later and only faced one big chance after Leonidas Stergiou's dismissal.
However, boss Sebastian Hoeness will be alarmed that his team have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their past seven Bundesliga matches.
Stuttgart managed to hold Leverkusen at bay on November 1 in the top flight when they drew 0-0, but it should be noted that they have only beaten the visitors once in their past 28 matchups.
Die Roten come into the clash winless in four games – losing twice – and they have lost four, drawn two and won one of their last seven in the league.
Stuttgart have been beaten in four of their five most recent home fixtures, and have lost each of their last three at MHPArena in the Bundesliga.
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Leverkusen dominated possession against Werder Bremen, accumulating 73% of the ball, and they may have had more success in the game had the likes of Emiliano Buendia and Amine Adli not wasted golden opportunities in front of goal.
Xabi Alonso's side were also beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich on Wednesday night in the Champions League in the second leg of their round of 16 matchup, exiting the competition after losing 5-0 on aggregate.
The club have now lost three consecutive matches – two of which came against Bayern – and they had not lost three in a row since August 2022.
Die Schwarzroten's struggles in the final third will concern fans, as while they have not scored in their last three, they also failed to find the back of the net in two of their prior four.
The DFB-Pokal looks to be Alonso's only chance of achieving silverware this term given there are only nine games left in the league campaign, and they have only experienced defeat twice in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season.
Leverkusen's form on the road has been subpar, with the club losing two, drawing two and winning two of their past six away from home in all competitions.
Team News
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Stuttgart centre-back Stergiou is out due to suspension, while Dan-Axel Zagadou is not scheduled to make his comeback from injury until May.
Perhaps defenders Finn Jeltsch and Julian Chabot will be stationed in front of goalkeeper Alexander Nubel.
Regular Angelo Stiller could be partnered by Atakan Karazor at the base of midfield, and the duo may support strikers Deniz Undav and Nick Woltemade.
Unfortunately for Leverkusen, centre-backs Mario Hermoso and Edmond Tapsoba have been ruled out, so expect Nordi Mukiele, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie to feature in a back three.
Talisman Florian Wirtz will join attackers Martin Terrier and Nathan Tella on the sidelines, and their absences make Adli, Aleix Garcia and Patrik Schick candidates to start in a front three.
Granit Xhaka is certain to appear on Sunday, and he is likely to be joined by Robert Andrich in a double pivot.
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav, Woltemade
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Mukiele, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Adli, Garcia; Schick
We say: Stuttgart 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Stuttgart's record at MHPArena has been poor, and though Leverkusen have experienced difficulty in recent weeks, they should be seen as favourites.
However, the visitors could struggle to create in the final third considering their poor form in front goal, and they may only win by a one-goal margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
