VfB Stuttgart
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
| 0-1 | Brandt | (11. Min) |
| 0-2 | Bellarabi | (49. Min) |
Andre Ramalho
Stats 
Defeat to Leverkusen
And on it goes - Bayer 04 Leverkusen are just not one of VfB’s favoured opponents. For the ninth time in succession, the Cannstatt Boys were unable to earn a win against the side from the Rhineland region (three draws, nine defeats). On Sunday, VfB slipped to a 0-2 (0-1) defeat to the 'Werkself'.
For all of their efforts, VfB ultimately lacked the penetrative power against an opponent that made effective use of the opportunities that came their way.
The line-up
Jürgen Kramny brought in Florian Klein as a replacement for the injured Kevin Großkreutz in the right full-back position, but otherwise stuck with the same eleven that began against FC Ingolstadt 04 last weekend.
Highlights
4th minute: VfB begin with tempo. Filip Kostic gets a cross in from the left, finding Christian Gentner, whose initial effort is blocked. The loose ball falls to Florian Klein, who is unable to direct his shot on goal.
11th minute: Bayer maintain the pressure and duly take the lead. Combining with Stefan Kießling and Karim Bellarabi, Julian Brandt is on target from 14 meters out to put the visitors in front.
Statement
Jürgen Kramny: "Right from the outset, we failed to get into the game the way we had intended to. We made a lot of errors in our passing and in several other situations. We subsequently took a more physical approach and created a couple of chances, but there just wasn’t to be a goal in it for us tonight. The win for Leverkusen is justified."
Post-match comments
30th minute: Przemyslaw Tyton is twice called into action, first to deny Julian Brandt’s low slotted effort (29’) and then in union with Georg Niedermeier to hinder a header from Stefan Kießling.
32nd minute: Georg Niedermeier picks up his fifth booking of the campaign and will thus miss out against SV Darmstadt 98 (April 2nd).
40th minute: A chance for an equaliser! Timo Werner lets fly from eleven meters out, but Bernd Leno is down quickly to make the save and clear for a corner.
45th minute: Half-time! The Cannstatt Boys upped the pressure towards the end of the first period, but had little joy going forward. Too many stray passes and lapses in concentration have cost the home side in the first half.
49th minute: Leverkusen hit on the break to make it 2-0 through Karim Bellarabi, following an assist from Julian Brandt.
57th minute: Fortune favours VfB, as Julian Brandt breaks and gets a shot away, but is denied by the width of the post.
65th minute: The frame of the goal comes to VfB’s rescue once again. Vladlen Yurchenko hits the crossbar.
69th minute: The home side look to get forward and create an opening for Florian Klein, but Leno is again equal to the effort.
72nd minute: Double chance for Jürgen Kramny’s men. Alexandru Maxim is initially denied by the Bayer keeper and tries his luck again from eleven meters out, but proves unsuccessful.
90th minute: It’s all over! No joy for the Cannstatt Boys on this occasion.
Summary
There was no denying the committed determination of the Cannstatt Boys, particularly during a pressure phase in the second half. As has been the case so often in recent weeks, the hosts got stuck into the challenges and looked to press forward whenever possible. Over the course of the ninety minutes, too many promising situations went a begging and imprecise passing proved costly. Leverkusen, on the other hand, were more effective with at least two of their attacks. The Cannstatt
