Bayer 04 Leverkusen
| 1-2 | Bellarabi | (57. Min) |
| 2-3 | Boenisch | (70. Min) |
| 3-3 | Chicharito | (71. Min) |
| 4-3 | Mehmedi | (89. Min) |
VfB Stuttgart
| 0-1 | Harnik | (50. Min) |
| 0-2 | Didavi | (54. Min) |
| 1-3 | Rupp | (60. Min) |
Toni Sunjic
Stats 
Lukas Rupp scored his first Bundesliga goal for VfB.
Spectacle with a bitter end
VfB make the trip back home from Leverkusen with nothing to show for their efforts. In the first half, coach Alexander Zorniger’s men performed well, but were unable to make the chances they had before the break count. The second period was a completely different story: Martin Harnik & Co. proved effective and twice led by two goals, but were unable to hold onto their advantage – first conceding the equaliser and then the 3-4 in the closing phase. The 30,000 strong crowd in Leverkusen were treated to six of the seven goals within a 21 minute period.
Personnel
VfB trainer Alexander Zorniger made two changes to the eleven that began in last weekend’s home success, with Carlos Gruezo and Daniel Schwaab beginning in midfield. For the Ecuadorian international, it was his first starting eleven outing of the Bundesliga season. He and Daniel Schwaab replaced the suspended Serey Dié and Alexandru Maxim. The Romanian took a place on the substitute’s bench.
Highlights
5th minute: VfB make a good start and create the first chancer of the game. Left full-back Emiliano Insua floats in a cross to Daniel Didavi, who narrowly pulls his effort wide of the target.
50th minute: VfB take the lead! As was the case in the first half, again in the second period Alexander Zorniger’s men make the better start and have the first sight of goal – which they this time make effective use of. From a free-kick, the Cannstatt Boys eventually gain control in the box, forcing the ball out to Martin Harnik, who slams his shot into the top of the net.
54th minute: And the Cannstatt Boys double their lead. Daniel Didavi is on target from 17 meters out with his fourth goal of the season to make it 2-0.
57th minute: Instead of increasing their lead further still, VfB allow Leverkusen a life-line. Substitute Karim Bellarabi drives the ball inside the near post just 38 seconds after his introduction to make it 1-2.
Statement
Martin Harnik: "That’s a really bitter defeat. When you twice have a two-goal lead, you should never get beaten."
Post-match comments
60th minute: VfB restore their two goal cushion! Timo Werner breaks free on the left and cuts a pass back to Lukas Rupp, who slots home from close range to make it 3-1. It was Rupp’s first goal in the Stuttgart colours.
70th minute: And now Leverkusen close the gap again. From a corner, Sebastian Boenisch makes it 2-3 from the host’s viewpoint.
71st minute: The equaliser! Taking on a pass from Admir Mehmedi, Chicharito forces the ball over the line to make it 3-3.
89th minute: The Champions League participants take the lead. Admir Mehmedi is on target to make it 4-3 for the home side.
90th minute: The final whistle. VfB had the chance to take at least one point, if not all three, but in the end, the Cannstatt Boys make the trip back home to Stuttgart with nothing to show for their efforts.
Summary
Both sides provided a true spectacle for the fans in the stadium. For a while, it looked as though VfB might steal away all three points from Leverkusen, having deservedly twice taken two goal leads in Leverkusen. The host’s double-whammy to make it 3-3 knocked VfB completely out of their stride and late on, the hose side then snatched a winner, to leave Zorniger’s men empty-handed after a committed performance.
