The sports day
Xabi Alonso is relying on top talent again, VfB is on pace
November 1, 2024, 8:33 p.m
Coach Xabi Alonso of double winners Bayer Leverkusen relies on exceptional talent again in the top Bundesliga game against runner-up VfB Stuttgart Florian Wirtz and goalscorer Victor Boniface. The Spaniard largely rested his stars in the cup win against second division side SV Elversberg (3-0) on Tuesday, and national player Robert Andrich and left-back Alejandro Grimaldo also return to the starting line-up. Striker Patrik Schick, who impressed with a brace against Elversberg, is initially on the bench. Offensive player Martin Terrier is missing from the squad.
Attacker El Bilal Toure will start at VfB as announced by coach Sebastian Hoeneß back at the forefront after taking a break in the cup against 1. FC Kaiserslautern (2-1). Both Bayer and VfB are under pressure after a mixed start to the season if they don't want to lose sight of the title race early on. In the previous season and in the Supercup in August, the two top teams often put on a spectacle, usually with a good outcome for the Werkself: Stuttgart has been waiting for a win against Leverkusen for more than six years.
