Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart resume the Bundesliga season on Friday evening. Neither team has been in shape so far. Stuttgart is even at the very bottom of the rankings.
Bayer Leverkusen:
Bayer Leverkusen has proved particularly volatile in the first months of the season. The team has done well in Europe. After four games from which nine points were achieved, the wintering has already been secured. How different is the image in the interior. After eleven matches, Die Werkself only gleaned eleven points with which you are in the danger zone. The last two played ligaduels yielded two large losses. TSG Hoffenheim lost 1-4, and before the international break, RB Leipzig was too strong 3-0.
Heiko Herrlich is still a trainer at his post in Leverkusen. Yet he has to worry. Before the international break, there were rumors that several other trainers were polled for the job in Leverkusen. The upcoming matches – Leverkusen will play against FC Nürnberg and FC Augsburg after Friday – must be points. Otherwise it can be a difficult story for Herrlich. Friday he has access to an almost complete group. Karim Bellarabi probably returns to the base.
VfB Stuttgart:
VfB Stuttgart celebrated a small highlight two weeks ago, in a still desolate season. On a visit to FC Nürnberg, Die Schwaben booked a much needed 0-2 victory. Really good was not played there, but since the home team played even less, Stuttgart won the match in Bavaria. Timo Baumgartl and Erik Thommy took care of the goals in the second half. With this result, Stuttgart now faces eight points – the team is still the number one in the league.
“With the success in the previous game, against Nürnberg, we have gained self-confidence,” suggested Stuttgart coach Markus Weinzierl in his preview of the match against Leverkusen. ‘Leverkusen is even stronger than our previous opponent. That is why we have to play defensively compact and win our duels, ‘says Weinzierl. Stuttgart does not seem to come to BayArena to play on the attack. Weinzierl has a fairly fit group. The players with a question mark behind their name seem to be taking the kickoff.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1.56
