Bayer Leverkusen missed the start of the 2026 football year. Ice-cold Stuttgart overwhelmed the Werkself, who appeared to be completely overwhelmed in the top Bundesliga game on Saturday evening, especially in the first half.
VfB won 4-1 (4-0) away against the Werkself for the first time in twelve games. Jamie Leweling (7th and 45th minutes), Maximilian Mittelstädt (29th, penalty kick) and Deniz Undav (45th + 2) ensured Stuttgart’s clear success. Alejandro Grimaldo made the result cosmetic with his consolation goal from the penalty spot in the second half (66th).
Even though the overall victory was probably one goal too high, the Stuttgart team sent a clear signal in the fight for the Champions League places. The guests caught up with Bayer on points (both 29 points) and climbed, at least temporarily, to fifth place in the table.
Leweling: “We laughed a lot at halftime”
“It was a very good game against a good opponent,” said match winner Leweling happily at the Sportschau microphone. “We laughed a lot at halftime and didn’t really know why it was 4-0. We’ve often lost here, a lot of close games – today we let out our anger.”
Stuttgart is starting at full steam
At Leverkusen, shortly before the start of the game, Patrik Schick had to miss the game with muscular problems. Because substitute center forward Christian Kofane was not yet fit for action after his African Cup appearances for Cameroon, Bayer coach Kasper Hjulmand had little choice but to start without a real attacker: Martin Terrier, actually an attacking midfielder, occupied the front position.
However, Terrier and Co. were busy with defensive tasks right from the start: Stuttgart got off to an outstanding start to the game. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken was able to thwart an early big chance for Josha Vagnoman (2nd), but shortly afterwards the Dutchman had to reach behind himself. After Stuttgart won the ball, Deniz Undav was given a lot of space and used it for a fine pass to Leweling. The German international didn’t let Robert Andrich catch him and poked the ball past Flekken and into the net.
Belocian starts too impetuously – 2-0 through Mittelstädt
Despite the early shock, Leverkusen couldn’t find its way into the game. While the home team had problems moving forward, the guests were wide awake and deservedly stepped up. Vagnoman burst energetically into the penalty area and was clumsily felled by Jaenuel Belocian. Referee Felix Zwayer consistently pointed to the spot, and even the 20-year-old Frenchman refrained from protesting. Mittelstädt scored confidently from the spot to make it 2-0 from the visitors’ perspective.
Jeanuel Belocian brings down Josha Vagnoman – there is a penalty
Leverkusen finally got into the game better and had their first big chance through Enzo Fernandez, but Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel reacted strongly (32nd). Shortly before the half-time whistle, Leverkusen was hit again – and twice. At first, central defender Belocian didn’t look good again, as he left Leweling too much space with his powerful left-footed shot into the near corner.
Two minutes later, ex-national player Chris Führich, who was extremely keen to play after a long dry spell, passed through to Undav. Stuttgart’s striker cleverly shielded the ball from Andrich in front of the goal and tunneled through Flekken on his low finish. 0:4 after 45 minutes – Leverkusen has only been further behind once in history, in the 0:5 against Bayern in the 2021/22 season (final score: 0:5). “One more goes, one more goes in,” came the noise from the guest curve.
Leverkusen makes double changes and improves a bit
The second half began without a goal at first, but there were still good chances to score. Terrier pushed the ball past the goal from close range (54th), Undav hit the ball over the goal from around 18 meters on the other side (56th). Leverkusen again had a good counter-attack opportunity through joker Ernest Poku (58′). In addition to Poku, Hjulmand understandably brought Loic Badé on at halftime to replace Belocian, who was next to him that day.
Leverkusen improved especially defensively in the second half, and it took until the middle of the second half before Bayer was able to celebrate for the first time. Jeff Chabot came too late against Malik Tillman, and again Zwayer correctly pointed to the point. Grimaldo safely converted the penalty.
But there wasn’t really a turnaround in the air; the Swabians were too stable that day. At least Leverkusen corrected the result somewhat. Their demeanor also improved: it was clear to the Werkself that they didn’t want to give in without a fight. Despite the decent second half, the bottom line was a clear home defeat, which very few people would have expected in this form.
Leverkusen at HSV, Stuttgart against Frankfurt
Leverkusen has the chance to correct the bad start to the football year on Tuesday evening at Hamburger SV during the English week (8.30 p.m.). Stuttgart also hosts Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday evening (6:30 p.m.).