VfB Stuttgart vs Bayer Leverkusen

VfB Stuttgart have won just one of their last 28 competitive games against Bayer 04 Leverkusen (D9, L18): 1-0 away in the Bundesliga in April 2018. The Werkself are currently unbeaten in their last 14 matches against VfB in all competitions (W8, D6), their longest streak in this fixture and also their longest ongoing unbeaten run against any top-flight side.

Since the start of last season, Bayer 04 Leverkusen (143) have picked up the most points of any Bundesliga side ahead of FC Bayern (133) and VfB Stuttgart (110). Stuttgart are a whole 16 points worse off than at this stage last season, while Leverkusen have collected 14 points fewer than after 25 matchdays in 2023/24 – no other side has seen as big a decrease in their points tally compared to last season.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen suffered their second defeat of the season last time out against SV Werder Bremen (2-0; previously lost 3-2 vs. RB Leipzig on MD2). Both of these losses came at home. Bayer 04 are currently unbeaten in each of their last 29 Bundesliga away games (W21, D8), the second-longest streak in league history (33 away games for FC Bayern from April 2012 to March 2014).

VfB Stuttgart are winless in each of their last four Bundesliga games for the first time under Sebastian Hoeneß (D2, L2). They have suffered three straight defeats at home for the first time since the turn of the year in 2021/22, exactly as many losses as in their first 31 top-flight home games under Hoeneß. Four straight Bundesliga defeats in Stuttgart would equal their negative club record in the top flight (happened 4 times, most recently in 2016).

Both Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart have had 16 different goalscorers this season – a joint league high together with Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Bayern. However, the Werkself have failed to score in three of their last five Bundesliga games, as often as in their previous 58 league games combined.