Stuttgart tamed Bayer Leverkusen

Stuttgart managed to tame Bayer Leverkusen in a thrilling match with a draw (1-1) allowing Xabi Alonso’s team to maintain their leadership and undefeated status in the Bundesliga. The rivalry had its share for each team, as the locals started at full speed and the visitors reacted big after the restart. The point won was small for Bayer, who stretched Bayern’s lead to four points with another game to play.

Stuttgart did everything from the start, taking advantage of Bayer’s hesitant start, well sharpened in attack by Boniface, Wirtz and Adli, who crashed the ball into the woodwork, but were very fragile in the rearguard. Stuttgart didn’t take advantage of the constant errors and mistakes in the ball out as they found a very inspired Hradecky and a providential Tapsoba who took the goal ball under the sticks. But the pitcher went so hard at the source that, on the brink of halftime, Vagnoman got past Grimaldo to give Fuhric a 1-o.

The response from Xabi Alonso’s team upon exiting the locker room was overwhelming. Bayer stepped up the pressure lines, increased the aggressiveness and two minutes later Wirtz tied the score with a volley after a good cross from Boniface. The Nigerian striker had more of a presence from then on and Leverkusen took control of the game. Stuttgart could not smell the ball for a long time and Xhaka almost made it 1-2 with a shot from outside the area that hit the post.

When the visitors’ momentum waned around 15 minutes after the restart, Stuttgart took the initiative and managed to leave their field with longer possessions but without threatening Hradecky.

After the losses both teams gave each other in an intense, back-and-forth first half, fatigue began to set in midway through the second half. Both Hoeness and Alonso tried to revive their troops at the changes and the clash heated up again in the final stage.

Frimpong stretched Bayer down the right wing thanks to the foresight of the brilliant Wirtz, who could not be identified between the lines and Tah had two chances from set pieces. In the end there was no time for more and Stuttgart and Bayer had to settle for a draw.