PLAYER RATINGS | VfB Stuttgart 3-4 Bayer Leverkusen | OneFootball

In a must-win game to close the gap to six points on Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen did not make it easy for themselves but came from 3-1 down to beat VfB Stuttgart 4-3.

Leverkusen started the first half off more brightly than the hosts, but what was evident from the off is that they were missing a creative spark. Die Werkself would do everything to work the ball to around the 18-yard box and would kind of freeze, it didn’t help that the ball would land to Jeremie Frimpong most of the time, who is not a creative player.

Compare that to the hosts, who were very effective on the counter. Stuttgart would open the scoring when a Nick Woltemade shot was parried by Lukas Hradecky directly into the path of Ermedin Demirovic. Woltemade would be the source of all things good for Stuttgart in the first 45. The Leverkusen defence could not find the answers to stop #BigNickEnergy, when Leverkusen were made to defend for large parts of the first half, they looked on the ropes and Stuttgart were unlucky not to go in at the break 2-0 up.

Things got worse for Leverkusen in the second half when Jonathan Tah was too easily outmuscled by Woltemade, who then made it 2-0. Leverkusen gave themselves some hope when Jeremie Frimpong made it 2-1. Then things started to get crazy.

Stuttgart would then counter, again, but Demirovic’s effort was then saved by Hradecky, but it bounced off Granit Xhaka. 3-1.

Piero Hincapié scores. 3-2.

A Victor Boniface effort is then diverted into the net by Angelo Stiller. 3-3.

At this point, considering how Leverkusen had played for most of today, a draw would have been a fair result, but somehow they remembered who they were last season. Leverkusen play the ball forward as the game ticked towards the end, Frimpong gets on the end of the long ball, plays in a cross that is met by the head of Patrik Schick. 4-3, comeback complete.

After a week from hell, this is a key win for Leverkusen for the rest of the season. Not only will it give them a massive confidence boost that they won the game without Florian Wirtz, but came from behind after what was a poor showing for most of the game, they are now only SIX points behind Bayern.

The title race is back on.

While for Stuttgart, this game summed up their season. They have been great at times, and looked back to the team they were last season, but they have also been far too inconsistent. Which was the case today. However, this game showed once again why it is probably the most fun matchup to watch in the Bundesliga in recent memory. Each meeting between Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen and Sebastian Hoeneß’ Stuttgart has been fireworks, long may it continue.

Bring on the Bundesliga after the international break.

VfB Stuttgart XI:

Alexander Nübel (4), Ameen Al-Dahkil (5), Finn Jeltsch (5), Ramon Hendriks (5), Maximilian Mittelstädt (6), Atakan Karazor (5), Angelo Stiller (5), Enzo Millot (6), Jamie Leweling (5), Nick Woltemade (8), Ermedin Demirovic (7)

Others: Josha Vagnoman (5), Deniz Undav (5), Jeff Chabot (5), El Bilal Touré (5), Chris Führich (-)

Bayer Leverkusen XI:

Lukas Hradecky (5), Nordi Mukiele (5), Jonathan Tah (4), Piero Hincapié (5), Jeremie Frimpong (7), Robert Andrich (5), Granit Xhaka (5), Exequiel Palacios (5), Alejandro Grimaldo (5), Aleix Garcia (5), Patrick Schick (5)

Others: Amine Adli (6), Victor Boniface (7), Arthur (5)

GGFN Man of the Match: Nick Woltemade (8)

Woltemade was unstoppable today. Everything good that Stuttgart created in attack, Woltemade was involved, the big man created three chances (the joint most in the game), had the most touches in the opposition box (11) and won 38% of his aerial duels (via FotMob). The 23-year-old continued to show why he is such a unicorn, either with his supreme technical ability, or the physical capacity to outmuscle Jonathan Tah. He can really do it all.

I think it would be a fair claim to make that Woltemade could be a part of the Germany squad in the summer, if they make it to the Nations League finals.

GGFN | Jack Meenan