Professionals, 1. November 2024
Record against Leverkusen
Overall: 91 games. 23 wins, 24 draws, 44 defeats. 115:163 goal difference.
In the Bundesliga: 86 games. 23 wins, 23 draws, 40 defeats. 110:152 goal difference.
Goals
The 91 competitive meetings between these two sides have produced 278 goals, which represents an average of 3.05 per game.
The highest-scoring encounter between VfB and Bayer Leverkusen came in March 1983 with a 5-3 Bundesliga win at home for the Cannstatt boys. There have been eight goalless draws between the teams in the German top flight, although the last one was 26 years ago in November 1998.
What the coaches say
Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen head coach: “The last matches against Stuttgart were all very exciting, intense and emotional. Not just for the fans and the players but also for us as coaches. I was always really exhausted after the last matches against them.”
Sebastian Hoeneß, VfB head coach: “We’ve won three matches in a week and we showed a good reaction to the defeat in Munich. Those positive experiences give us strength to travel to Leverkusen with confidence.”
On a roll
Deniz Undav has scored five goals in his last six Bundesliga appearances. He’s now level with Ermedin Demirovic as VfB’s leading scorer in the league this season. The Germany international has also netted once in each of the last two meetings between Stuttgart and Leverkusen.
Team news
“We don’t have any new concerns. Yannik Keitel (adductor) and Jeff Chabot (suspended) will both be missing.”
The Werkself will be without defender Jeanuël Belocian on Friday. Left winger Amine Adli faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after his recent fibula fracture.
Crowd
VfB will be cheered on by at least 3,000 fans at the BayArena. No tickets will be available on the day.