Bayer Leverkusen will look to move right back into the win column after a narrow defeat in the Europa League sees them having everything to play for in the return leg with the club heading on the road to Stuttgart in the meantime.
Leverkusen were not at the races when they met with Roma in midweek during the Europa League and a second half goal from the Serie A outfit handed them a deserved lead. Leverkusen will now need to overturn a 1-0 lead in the second leg.
Los geht's. Die öffentliche Einheit vor dem Heimspiel gegen @bayer04fussball läuft. ⚽️#VfB | #VfBB04 pic.twitter.com/tolrPk4QMV— VfB Stuttgart (@VfB) May 10, 2023
Los geht's. Die öffentliche Einheit vor dem Heimspiel gegen @bayer04fussball läuft. ⚽️#VfB | #VfBB04 pic.twitter.com/tolrPk4QMV
The club have lost two in a row as well after an excellent run of form saw them jump into the top six of the German top flight.
In fact, they also drew 0-0 with Union Berlin, which now means they haven't won a game in the past three weeks after also losing to Koln 2-1 - Amine Adli scored once more that day.
Xabi Alonso’s last win was in a 2-0 home victory over RB Leipzig in a game that saw Adam Hlozek score in the first half before Nadiem Amiri scored from the penalty spot.
They remain in sixth, however, despite the poor run of form once again and they will be hopeful of finishing in a Europa Conference League spot.
The gap is just two points on Wolfsburg in seventh, however, with a gap of eight points on Freiburg in fifth.
In fact, if Alonso's men fail to win here and if Freiburg win their game, it will mathematically end Leverkusen's hopes of getting into the Europa League for next season.
On the other hand, there is still a chance of getting into the Champions League, should they win the Europa League.
As for Stuttgart, they are in the relegation zone once more after Schalke's excellent change in form has thrown the club into 16th once again.
There is a gap of two points to make up on the 15th-placed Schalke and they only sit ahead of the automatic relegation spot in 17th by goals difference, having let in 15 fewer goals from Bochum and scored six more too.
Stuttgart were, however, beaten 2-1 by last-placed Hertha Berlin last weekend and they were also knocked out of the DFB-Pokal semi-finals last Wednesday by Eintracht Frankfurt. The club's last win came three weeks ago in a 2-1 home victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.
Forebet predicts a win for Leverkusen and over 2.5 goals in the game.