VfB suffered a set-back in their bid to avoid relegation as they lost 4-0 to Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 25. A brace from Josip Drmic, a first Bundesliga goal from Wendell and a strike from Karim Bellarabi condemned them to defeat. The bottom-of-the-table side have now failed to win in their past nine Bundesliga games against Leverkusen.
Huub Stevens commented before the game how miracles keep happening again and again in football and that is certainly what Stuttgart need after defeat anchored them to the bottom of the Bundesliga table. VfB started with Daniel Ginczek as the lone striker as Martin Harnik was suspended and Vedad Ibisevic has failed to score in 22 appearances. Hakan Calhanoglu returned to the Bayer 04 starting line-up after recovering from a knee problem and Stefan Kießling dropped to the bench.
Sloppy start, Stuttgart better
It was a sloppy start to the game as neither team could settle into a slick passing rhythm with both misplacing passes and conceding possession all too easily.
VfB‘s Timo Werner set up the first chance of the evening. His pass found Ginzcek but former Stuttgart keeper Bernd Leno pulled off a fantastic save to deny the visitors. Leverkusen, who relinquished a three-goal lead in the memorable first half of the season encounter between the two teams, failed to put the visitors under pressure in the opening stages.
Two chances, two goals
On the 48th birthday of their manager Roger Schmidt, Leverkusen failed to record a shot on target in the opening 30 minutes of the game but they were clinical and converted their first two chances. Wendell fired home from 16 metres after a string of errors and misunderstanding in the Stuttgart defence before Drmic doubled the lead when he nodded past Ulreich.
The game was essentially put to bed four minutes into the second half. Stuttgart lost possession and Bellarabi tricked and turned his way past Gotoku Sakai before unleashing a powerful low shot which left Ulreich with no chance. VfB were lucky not to fall further behind in the 53rd minute when Ulreich saved from Heung-Min Son and Bellarabi couldn’t capitalise on the rebound. However, Drmic grabbed his second of the game and the hosts' fourth minutes later with a low shot from 16 metres.
VfB suffered a set-back in their bid to avoid relegation as they lost 4-0 to Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 25. A brace from Josip Drmic, a first Bundesliga goal from Wendell and a strike from Karim Bellarabi condemned them to defeat. The bottom-of-the-table side have now failed to win in their past nine Bundesliga games against Leverkusen.
Huub Stevens commented before the game how miracles keep happening again and again in football and that is certainly what Stuttgart need after defeat anchored them to the bottom of the Bundesliga table. VfB started with Daniel Ginczek as the lone striker as Martin Harnik was suspended and Vedad Ibisevic has failed to score in 22 appearances. Hakan Calhanoglu returned to the Bayer 04 starting line-up after recovering from a knee problem and Stefan Kießling dropped to the bench.
Sloppy start, Stuttgart better
It was a sloppy start to the game as neither team could settle into a slick passing rhythm with both misplacing passes and conceding possession all too easily.
VfB‘s Timo Werner set up the first chance of the evening. His pass found Ginzcek but former Stuttgart keeper Bernd Leno pulled off a fantastic save to deny the visitors. Leverkusen, who relinquished a three-goal lead in the memorable first half of the season encounter between the two teams, failed to put the visitors under pressure in the opening stages.
Two chances, two goals
On the 48th birthday of their manager Roger Schmidt, Leverkusen failed to record a shot on target in the opening 30 minutes of the game but they were clinical and converted their first two chances. Wendell fired home from 16 metres after a string of errors and misunderstanding in the Stuttgart defence before Drmic doubled the lead when he nodded past Ulreich.
The game was essentially put to bed four minutes into the second half. Stuttgart lost possession and Bellarabi tricked and turned his way past Gotoku Sakai before unleashing a powerful low shot which left Ulreich with no chance. VfB were lucky not to fall further behind in the 53rd minute when Ulreich saved from Heung-Min Son and Bellarabi couldn’t capitalise on the rebound. However, Drmic grabbed his second of the game and the hosts' fourth minutes later with a low shot from 16 metres.
