Stuttgart stun Bayer Leverkusen in six-goal Bundesliga thriller
VfB Stuttgart delivered a statement performance on Saturday, beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 away from home in the eighth round of the Bundesliga. A fast start, clinical finishing and a superb long-range strike from Moroccan playmaker Bilal El Khannouss helped the visitors secure all three points in an entertaining contest.
The result lifts Stuttgart to 10th place on nine points, while Leverkusen remain sixth with 13. For Stuttgart, the win offers a valuable boost after a challenging opening stretch to the season. For the hosts, it was a frustrating evening in which attacking moments were not enough to offset defensive lapses.
Stuttgart make their early pressure count
Stuttgart began with purpose and took the lead in the 14th minute after a sharp move involving El Khannouss and Deniz Undav. The pair combined to create space for a shot that goalkeeper Mark Flekken could only parry. Ermedin Demirović reacted quickest to the rebound, finishing from close range to put the visitors ahead.
The opening goal reflected Stuttgart’s intent to attack quickly rather than allow Leverkusen to settle into their usual rhythm. Their movement between the lines and willingness to press the ball helped them make the most of early openings.
Eight minutes later, Stuttgart doubled their advantage from a set piece. Vušković delivered a corner into the area, where Jeff Chabot directed a header towards goal. Grisha Prömel nodded the ball onward, and Jamie Leweling finished from close range. The sequence showcased Stuttgart’s preparation and physical threat in the air, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead before the half-hour mark.
Leverkusen respond, but Stuttgart hold their advantage
Bayer Leverkusen needed a response, and Patrik Schick provided one in the 28th minute. The striker rose to meet Álex García’s corner and sent a powerful header into the net, cutting Stuttgart’s lead to 2-1.
That goal gave the home side renewed energy. Ibrahim Maza came close to an equaliser when his effort from another corner struck the crossbar. Stuttgart also threatened before the interval, with Leweling hitting the woodwork at the opposite end. Despite the chances at both ends, the score remained 2-1 at half-time.
Leverkusen’s spell of pressure suggested the game could turn, but Stuttgart stayed composed after the break. Instead of sitting back and protecting their narrow lead, the visitors continued to look for opportunities to attack—a decision that proved decisive.
El Khannouss produces a standout moment
Stuttgart restored their two-goal cushion in the 51st minute, with El Khannouss providing the match’s most eye-catching finish. After Stuttgart worked through Leverkusen’s pressure, Vušković found the Moroccan on the left. El Khannouss drove towards the edge of the penalty area before curling a precise shot from around 20 yards into the far corner.
The strike was a moment of individual quality, combining control, confidence and accuracy. It also underlined El Khannouss’s growing influence in Stuttgart’s attack. The midfielder had already helped create the opening goal, and his finish made him one of the defining players of the night. For Moroccan football supporters, his performance offered another reminder of the talent emerging from the country’s internationally recognised generation of players.
At 3-1, Stuttgart had breathing room, but Leverkusen remained dangerous. The hosts continued to push forward, leaving space for the visitors to exploit on the counterattack.
Demirović seals the win as Maza scores late
Stuttgart made that space count in the 65th minute. Undav sent a well-weighted pass across the penalty area to Demirović, who met it at the far post and fired home from seven yards. The goal completed Demirović’s brace and put Stuttgart 4-1 ahead.
The combination between Undav and Demirović was a major feature of Stuttgart’s attacking display. Undav’s vision and movement created opportunities, while Demirović showed the sharpness required to turn them into goals. Their partnership gave Leverkusen’s defence persistent problems and ensured Stuttgart capitalised on the chances they created.
Leverkusen reduced the deficit in the 79th minute. Miguel Gutiérrez delivered a cross towards the far post, where Ibrahim Maza headed the ball into the net to make it 4-2. The late goal gave the home supporters something to celebrate, but it arrived too late to spark a serious comeback. Stuttgart managed the closing stages and left with a deserved victory.
What the result means for the Bundesliga race
The scoreline will attract attention, but the manner of Stuttgart’s win is just as significant. They were efficient in front of goal, dangerous from set pieces and capable of responding when Leverkusen threatened to build momentum. Their four goals came through different types of attacking play, from a rebound and a corner routine to El Khannouss’s individual brilliance and Demirović’s close-range finish.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, will need to examine how Stuttgart repeatedly found space in dangerous areas. Schick and Maza offered attacking threat, and the hosts created chances, but their defensive organisation struggled against the visitors’ pace and movement. A 4-2 defeat at home also leaves Leverkusen with work to do as they aim to remain in touch with the Bundesliga’s leading clubs.
Looking ahead: Stuttgart and Leverkusen predictions
Any prediction for Stuttgart’s next fixtures must account for the confidence gained from this result. If El Khannouss continues to influence games and the Undav-Demirović partnership remains productive, Stuttgart will have reasons to believe they can climb the standings. Their challenge will be to reproduce this level of finishing consistently, particularly against opponents who offer fewer clear chances.
Leverkusen still have the quality to respond, but their next matches will test their ability to tighten up without losing their attacking identity. The Bundesliga season remains long, and one defeat does not define a campaign. Still, Stuttgart’s emphatic 4-2 win was a timely reminder that well-organised, confident football can trouble even the league’s strongest sides.
