Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart played out a frustrating 0-0, which is a result that saw both teams keep their first clean sheets of the season in the Bundesliga.
The hosts were the much brighter side in the first half but neither side were able to create any meaningful chances, in fact, Stuttgart created nothing in the first half. Leverkusen were efficient in their press and caused several issues for VfB when they played out of the back but they also tended to find themselves offside when they did begin their counter. The most note-worthy chance was right at the end of the half when a Leverkusen corner was played in and a Victor Boniface header forced Alexander Nübel to make a point-blank save.
The second half was very much like the first and it saw Leverkusen get the better of Stuttgart’s backline but were continuously stopped by either their poor finish or a save from Nübel. Ultimately, Leverkusen were unable to get the better of the Stuttgart keeper. The positive for Leverkusen was that they kept their first Bundesliga clean sheet of the season, but this should be taken with a pinch of salt as Stuttgart were very poor in attack this evening, they only had one shot on target all evening. While attacking-wise, Die Werkself looked a lot more energetic compared to their previous performances and their attacking play was more lively.
The draw is the second in a row for Leverkusen and if both Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig win tomorrow, they will be seven points behind the duo by the end of the weekend. Stuttgart also close in on the European places and are now two points off of Union Berlin in 4th.
Bayer Leverkusen XI:
Lukas Hradecky (5)Edmond Tapsoba (5),Jonathan Tah (6)Piero Hincapié (5)Nordi Mukiele (5)Robert Andrich (5)Granit Xhaka (6)Alejandro Grimaldo (6)Jeremie Frimpong (6)Florian Wirtz (6)Victor Boniface (6)
Others: Jonas Hofmann (5), Nathan Tella (-), Patrik Schick (-), Exequiel Palacios (-)
VfB Stuttgart XI:
Alexander Nübel (7)Josha Vagnoman (5)Henry Chase (5)Anthony Rouault (5)Maximilian Mittelstädt (5)Enzo Millot (5)Atakan Karazor (5)Angelo Stiller (5)Jamie Leweling (-)Bilal Touré (6)Deniz Undav (4)
Others: Fabian Rieder (5), Chris Führich (5), Ramon Hendriks (5), Ermedin Demirovic (-), Ameen Al Dakhil (-)
GGFN Man of the Match: Alexander Nübel (7)
The Stuttgart keeper made several key saves to keep them in the game, whether that be his point-blank save right at the end of the first half or the handful of times he kept out Victor Boniface in the second half. Without the on-loan Bayern Munich keeper, Leverkusen would have won the game but with Nübel between the sticks he made the evening very frustrating for the defending champions.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
