Bayer Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart
Two Top 4 hopefuls in the Bundesliga are set to square off at the BayArena, as Bayer Leverkusen host VfB Stuttgart this Saturday evening, and football fans might be in for another barnburner, based on their recent history.
Between these two teams, Bayer Leverkusen have the edge, as they’re third in the German top-flight standings with 29 points, level with fourth-seeded RB Leipzig, whom they beat the last time out on Matchday 15. Kasper Hjulmand’s men are on a two-game winning streak and are hopeful to keep it going.
On the other hand, VfB Stuttgart has work to do, but they’re not too far off. Sebastian Hoeneß’ side is sixth in the table with 26 points, and is also unbeaten in their last two league games. Die Schwaben recently hosted a club friendly match against Luzern, which they won 3-2.
This is a pivotal game for both sides, and SBOTOP is here for the preview.
Talking Points
Terrier finding his feet at Bayer Leverkusen
After a surprising loss to Augsburg last month and a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in the Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen bounced back with back-to-back wins against Koln (2-0) and RB Leipzig (3-1) to finish 2025 on a positive note. Martin Terrier was a key contributor during their winning run, having scored two goals. Before this, Terrier’s last goal was in October, as he had a significant injury lay-off.
He broke his goal drought in style against Koln, as Terrier dinked the ball into the back of the net using his backheel in the second half. That had to feel good, considering what he went through during rehab.
After coming off the bench against Koln, Terrier started alongside Patrik Schick and Jonas Hofmann in the final third against RB Leipzig, and the 28-year-old midfielder scored the first goal of the match again to set the tone before Schick and Montrell Culbreath added goals of their own.
With Eliesse Ben Seghir, Christian Kofane, and Ibrahim Maza all on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Exequiel Palacios and Ernest Poku dealing with injuries, Terrier will likely draw another start against VfB Stuttgart.
VfB Stuttgart receive huge lineup boost
Following their goalless draw against Hoffenheim, VfB Stuttgart hosted a club friendly against Luzern, and they won 3-2 against the Swiss Super League side to boost their confidence. More good news came after the exhibition match, as Ermedin Demirovic took part in training after suffering a fractured metatarsal in October.
Demirovic has been one of the key players in Die Schwaben’s attack, so having him back surely helps. Before the foot injury, the 27-year-old forward had three goals and one assist. He’ll likely come off the bench against Bayer Leverkusen, with Deniz Undav, Tiago Tomas, and Jamie Leweling starting ahead of him.
Furthermore, VfB Stuttgart have added to their attacking options this month by signing Ecuadorian Jeremy Arevalo from Racing Santander to a five-and-a-half-year contract.
History
Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart have had their share of high-scoring matches over the years, including a 4-3 result in their previous league encounter. In March 2025, Die Werkself won the seven-goal thriller at the MHPArena, as Jeremie Frimpong, Piero Hincapie, and Patrik Schick were on the scoresheet, while Ermedin Demirovic and Nick Woltemade scored for Die Schwaben. Granit Xhaka and Angelo Stiller also scored own goals.
Die Werkself are undefeated in their last 15 games against Die Schwaben across all competitions (W9, D6), though three of their last four have been draws. VfB Stuttgart’s last victory in this fixture was a 1-0 result in April 2018.
Bayer Leverkusen have started the new calendar year with a league win for the past three years, and they hope to continue this tradition this year to keep pace in the Bundesliga title race.
Betting Tip
The Bundesliga 2026 odds have Bayer Leverkusen extending their winning streak at the expense of VfB Stuttgart on Saturday. Die Werkself are 1.94 favourites to claim maximum points, while Die Schwaben aren’t far behind at 3.26, and a draw is priced at 3.58 in the 1X2 market.
Despite the gap between them, we believe this will be a close match, and there’ll be new Bundesliga 2026 highlights along the way. Other than our recommended bet, bettors may also want to add Over 3.25 at 2.03, Over 3.50 at 2.31, and Total Goal 4-6 at 2.51 to the parlay. Moreover, a Correct Score of 4-3 in favour of Bayer Leverkusen – the result of their last meeting – is a long shot at 80.00, which might actually tempt some punters.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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