Champions Bayer Leverkusen will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing draw last time out in the league when they host Stuttgart on Friday at BayArena in the Bundesliga.
Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen are third in the top flight with 15 points from eight matches and drew 2-2 with Werder Bremen in their last league outing on October 26, while the away side are eighth with 12 points after eight matchweeks.
Match preview
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The hosts had taken a 2-1 lead against Werder Bremen after Felix Agu's own goal in the 77th minute, but Romano Schmid scored a 90th-minute equaliser for the Green-Whites and ensured that Die Schwarzroten drew for the third time in four league games.
Alonso's side have already dropped points in the league four times this season, drawing three times and losing once, whereas they only dropped points on six occasions in the entirety of last term while also going unbeaten.
In their last game on Tuesday, Leverkusen beat Elversberg 3-0 in the second round of the DFB-Pokal, a match in which they scored twice after just nine minutes and took a three-goal lead by the 36th minute.
Though Die Schwarzroten have scored 16 times in their last eight matches, they have also conceded on 10 occasions, keeping just two clean sheets in that period.
Leverkusen have also failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their nine most recent league matches, and their record of 15 conceded this term makes them the division's 11th best defensive side.
The hosts do boast a phenomenal home record, with the club winning four and drawing one of their last five games at BayArena, as well as prevailing in 26, drawing five and losing just one of their last 32 fixtures at home.
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Meanwhile, opponents Stuttgart come into the clash having beaten Kaiserslautern 2-1 on Tuesday in the DFB-Pokal's second round, their third consecutive victory.
Friday's visitors emerged as 2-1 winners against newly-promoted Holstein Kiel on October 26 despite being reduced to 10 men in the 66th minute when the score was 2-0.
Manager Sebastian Hoeness, who was linked to Manchester United as a potential successor to Erik ten Hag, said that he was delighted with the result given he believes the Bundesliga is the most important competition that his team compete in.
Hoeness's side have proven difficult to beat in recent weeks, as while they lost 4-0 against Bayern Munich on October 19, that was their only defeat in their eight most recent games having won four and drawn three in that time.
However, Stuttgart's away form is mixed considering they have lost three, drawn two and won two of their last seven away matches in the league, though it should be noted that they triumphed in the five prior Bundesliga fixtures on the road.
Team News
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Forward Amine Adli remains sidelined for the hosts as a result of a broken leg which is likely to keep him out of action until March 2025, while defender Jeanuel Belocian has been ruled out until late November.
Alonso could field centre-backs Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie in front of goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
Victor Boniface is certain to lead the forward line, supported by attackers Martin Terrier and Florian Wirtz.
Stuttgart have several absentees, including centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou until February 2025, as well as centre-back Jeff Chabot, who was sent off against Holstein Kiel.
Luca Raimund is not scheduled to return until early next month, while Yannik Keitel is expected to return to action at the end of November.
Winger Justin Diehl and right-back Leonidas Stergiou are also doubts, so perhaps Hoeness will name a backline consisting of Josha Vagnoman, Arnie Chase, Anthony Rouault and Maximilian Mittelstadt, as well as a front two featuring El Bilal Toure and Deniz Undav.
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Chase, Rouault, Mittelstadt; Millot, Karazor, Stiller, Leweling; Toure, Undav
We say: Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 Stuttgart
Given Bayer Leverkusen's strong offensive and poor defensive records, it would not be surprising if Friday's clash was a high-scoring affair.
However, the hosts should be considered favourites due to their formidable home form, as well as Stuttgart's mixed away showings this term.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
