Stuttgart Stun Leverkusen 4-2, Home Unbeaten Record Ends
Baca dalam 60 detik
- VfB Stuttgart mengakhiri rekor tak terkalahkan Bayer Leverkusen di kandang sendiri dengan kemenangan meyakinkan 4-2 pada pekan ke-8 Bundesliga.
- Ermedin Demirović menjadi bintang dengan dua gol dan terpilih sebagai Player of the Match, sementara Bilal El Khannouss tampil impresif dengan satu gol dan satu assist.
- Kekalahan ini menjadi pukulan bagi Leverkusen yang sebelumnya belum terkalahkan di BayArena, sekaligus memberi sinyal bahwa Stuttgart serius mengancam papan atas.
Bayer Leverkusen had to swallow their first bitter pill in front of their own supporters after falling 2-4 to VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga matchweek 8 at the BayArena. The defeat not only ended Leverkusen's unbeaten home record but also served as a firm statement from Stuttgart that they deserve to be counted in this season's race at the top.
Stuttgart looked surprising from the opening minutes. Ermedin Demirović opened the scoring in the 14th minute after pouncing on a rebound from Bilal El Khannouss's shot that Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken parried. Just eight minutes later, Jamie Leweling doubled the lead through a scramble in front of goal that began with a Chris Führich corner. Leverkusen briefly pulled one back through a Patrik Schick header in the 28th minute, but Stuttgart kept control of the game.
Entering the second half, Stuttgart again showed attacking efficiency. El Khannouss scored the third in the 51st minute with a measured strike from outside the penalty box after receiving a pass from Führich. Demirović then put his name on the scoresheet for the second time in the 65th minute, latching onto a well-placed cross from Deniz Undav. Leverkusen could only reply once through an Ibrahim Maza header in the 79th minute, and Stuttgart held on until the final whistle.
The win underlined Stuttgart's quality under Sebastian Hoeneß. Despite rotating with Dennis Seimen, Luca Jaquez, Atakan Karazor, and Chris Führich starting, the visitors remained solid. The absence of Angelo Stiller due to an adductor injury did not diminish the midfield's strength. Conversely, Leverkusen, coached by Carles Martínez, made five changes, including handing Lucas Vázquez his first Bundesliga start after two months, but the decision did not yield maximum results.
"We knew Leverkusen were very strong at home, but we came with a clear plan and the players executed it perfectly," Demirović said after the match, as quoted by the official Bundesliga website.
For Leverkusen, the defeat is a serious warning. Although they remain near the top, their clean-sheet record at home has finally crumbled. Pressure now shifts to Carles Martínez to quickly fix a defense that looked fragile against Stuttgart's quick counterattacks. Meanwhile, Stuttgart proved they are not merely a surprise team but a serious contender for a top-four spot.
In the context of the Bundesliga race, the result opens the door for other teams to close in on the Champions League zone. Stuttgart themselves face a packed schedule, including European matches, which will test their squad depth. Leverkusen, on the other hand, are urged to bounce back quickly so as not to lose momentum in the title chase. The question is, will this defeat be a turning point for Leverkusen or the start of a Stuttgart resurgence?
