Bayer Leverkusen 2-4 VfB Stuttgart: Demirović Brace Leads Stunning Away Victory

VfB Stuttgart produced an impressive attacking performance to defeat Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4-2 at the BayArena, ending the hosts' perfect home record in all competitions this season. Ermedin Demirović scored twice, while Jamie Leweling and Bilal El Khannouss also found the net for the visitors. Patrik Schick and Ibrahim Maza scored for Leverkusen, but Stuttgart's clinical finishing proved decisive.

The result was particularly important for Sebastian Hoeneß's side, who arrived in Leverkusen looking to turn their Bundesliga form around. Stuttgart made a fast start, responded to Leverkusen's first-half goal with another strong attacking spell after the break, and defended their advantage during the closing stages.

Match Highlights

First Half: Stuttgart Strike Twice Before Schick Responds

Demirović Opens the Scoring

Stuttgart started with confidence and took the lead in the 14th minute. Bilal El Khannouss and Deniz Undav combined to create the opening, forcing goalkeeper Mark Flekken into a save. Ermedin Demirović reacted quickest to the rebound and finished to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.

The goal rewarded Stuttgart's direct attacking approach. Rather than allowing Leverkusen to settle into their usual possession game, the visitors looked to move the ball quickly into dangerous areas and attack the space around the home defence.

Leweling Doubles the Advantage

Eight minutes later, Stuttgart doubled their lead from a set-piece situation. Chris Führich delivered a corner that was directed towards goal through a series of close-range touches. Jamie Leweling reacted to the loose ball and bundled it over the line to make it 2-0.

Leverkusen suddenly faced a difficult task at home, but the hosts responded by increasing their pressure and looking for opportunities from wide areas and corners.

Schick Gives Leverkusen Hope

In the 28th minute, Leverkusen reduced the deficit. Aleix García delivered a corner into the penalty area, and Patrik Schick rose to head the ball home, making the score 2-1.

The goal brought the home crowd back into the match and gave Leverkusen a route back into the contest. Ibrahim Maza later struck the crossbar from a corner, while Leweling hit the woodwork at the other end shortly before half-time.

Despite Leverkusen's improved response, Stuttgart went into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Second Half: El Khannouss and Demirović Extend Stuttgart's Lead

El Khannouss Delivers a Clinical Finish

Stuttgart began the second half in the same aggressive manner as the first. In the 51st minute, Chris Führich released El Khannouss down the left. The Moroccan attacker advanced towards the edge of the penalty area before placing a low shot into the far corner.

The goal restored Stuttgart's two-goal cushion at 3-1 and underlined the visitors' ability to turn attacking transitions into clear scoring opportunities.

Demirović Completes His Brace

Stuttgart struck again in the 65th minute. After the visitors regained possession, the move developed through Maximilian Mittelstädt and El Khannouss before Deniz Undav produced an excellent pass across the penalty area. Demirović finished from close range to score his second goal of the afternoon and make it 4-1.

It was a decisive moment. Leverkusen still had time to respond, but Stuttgart had created a significant advantage by converting their opportunities with impressive efficiency.

Maza Pulls One Back

Leverkusen continued to attack and found another goal in the 79th minute. Miguel Gutiérrez sent a cross into the box, where Ibrahim Maza arrived at the far post to head the ball home and reduce the deficit to 4-2.

The goal gave the home side renewed hope, but Stuttgart remained organised in the closing stages. Leverkusen pushed forward without finding another breakthrough, and the visitors secured a valuable away win.

Final Score and Goal Timeline

Team	First Half	Second Half	Full-time
Bayer Leverkusen	1	1	2
VfB Stuttgart	2	2	4

Minute	Team	Scoring Event	Score
14'	VfB Stuttgart	Ermedin Demirović scores from close range after Flekken saves the initial effort.	0-1
22'	VfB Stuttgart	Jamie Leweling finishes from close range following a corner.	0-2
28'	Bayer Leverkusen	Patrik Schick heads home from an Aleix García corner.	1-2
51'	VfB Stuttgart	Bilal El Khannouss finishes from the edge of the penalty area.	1-3
65'	VfB Stuttgart	Ermedin Demirović converts Deniz Undav's pass to complete his brace.	1-4
79'	Bayer Leverkusen	Ibrahim Maza heads in Miguel Gutiérrez's cross.	2-4

Match Statistics

The official VfB Stuttgart match centre recorded a clear difference in possession and attacking volume. Leverkusen had more of the ball and registered more shots, but Stuttgart were more effective in front of goal.

Statistic	Bayer Leverkusen	VfB Stuttgart
Goals	2	4
Possession	63.2%	36.8%
Total Shots	24	15
Corners	12	3
Yellow Cards	4	4
Red Cards	0	0
Expected Goals (xG)	1.77	3.23
Attendance	30,210

Statistics are sourced from the official VfB Stuttgart match centre and Bundesliga Match Facts. Expected goals (xG) estimate the quality of chances created; they are not the same as the final score.

Standout Player Performances

The following are editorial observations based on the match report and recorded match events, not official numerical player ratings.

Player	Team	Performance
Ermedin Demirović	VfB Stuttgart	Scored twice, finishing the opening goal's rebound and converting Undav's pass for the fourth.
Bilal El Khannouss	VfB Stuttgart	Contributed to the opening move and scored a composed second-half goal.
Jamie Leweling	VfB Stuttgart	Scored Stuttgart's second goal after a corner and helped stretch Leverkusen's defence.
Deniz Undav	VfB Stuttgart	Played a key role in the attacking combinations and supplied the pass for Demirović's second goal.
Chris Führich	VfB Stuttgart	Delivered the corner leading to Leweling's goal and assisted El Khannouss.
Patrik Schick	Bayer Leverkusen	Scored Leverkusen's first goal with a header from a corner.
Ibrahim Maza	Bayer Leverkusen	Scored the second goal and continued to look for attacking opportunities.
Miguel Gutiérrez	Bayer Leverkusen	Provided the cross for Maza's late header.

Official Player of the Match: Ermedin Demirović was named Player of the Match in the Bundesliga's coverage after scoring both of Stuttgart's first-half and second-half finishing contributions to the victory.

Tactical Analysis: Why Stuttgart Won

1. Clinical Finishing Made the Difference

Leverkusen enjoyed 63.2% possession and recorded 24 shots, compared with Stuttgart's 15. However, the expected-goals figures tell a different story: Stuttgart registered 3.23 xG against Leverkusen's 1.77.

This suggests that Stuttgart created higher-quality scoring opportunities despite having less of the ball. Their willingness to attack quickly and reach dangerous positions helped them turn fewer shots into more goals.

2. Set Pieces Created Early Pressure

Stuttgart's second goal came from a corner, while Leverkusen's response also originated from a set piece. Both teams recognised the value of deliveries into the penalty area, but Stuttgart's early success put the home side under immediate pressure.

Leverkusen won 12 corners overall, yet they could not convert that advantage into enough goals to change the result. Stuttgart, by contrast, made their early set-piece opportunity count.

3. El Khannouss Added a Different Attacking Threat

Bilal El Khannouss was influential in Stuttgart's attacking play. His contribution to the opening move and his own goal in the 51st minute showed how he could create opportunities both through combinations and individual movement.

His ability to carry the ball into space helped Stuttgart attack before Leverkusen could fully organise their defensive shape.

4. Undav's Link-Up Play Opened the Door

Deniz Undav's movement and passing helped connect Stuttgart's midfield with the forward line. His excellent delivery for Demirović's second goal was a particularly important example of the visitors' attacking quality.

Instead of relying exclusively on long balls or individual runs, Stuttgart combined quickly around the penalty area and created clear chances through coordinated movement.

5. Leverkusen's Possession Did Not Produce Enough Control

Leverkusen's possession and corner totals demonstrate that they spent significant periods attacking. However, Stuttgart's ability to score at key moments meant the hosts were repeatedly forced to chase the game.

The 4-2 scoreline also reflected the visitors' ability to punish defensive openings. Leverkusen's late goal showed their determination, but it came too late to prevent their first home defeat of the season in all competitions.

What the Result Means

The victory gave Stuttgart three important Bundesliga points and provided a positive response to a difficult start to the league campaign. Their performance in Leverkusen demonstrated the attacking potential of Hoeneß's side when they combine intensity with clinical finishing.

For Bayer Leverkusen, the defeat ended a run of six consecutive home wins across all competitions. Although the hosts created plenty of attacking activity, they were unable to prevent Stuttgart from exploiting key moments in both halves.

Final Verdict

VfB Stuttgart deserved their 4-2 victory after combining sharp attacking transitions, effective set pieces and clinical finishing. Ermedin Demirović's brace was central to the result, while Jamie Leweling and Bilal El Khannouss provided crucial goals that kept the visitors ahead.

Leverkusen had more possession and more shots, but Stuttgart created the more dangerous chances and converted them with greater efficiency. Schick and Maza gave the hosts hope, yet the visitors remained composed enough to protect their advantage.

Final score: Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-4 VfB Stuttgart.

Sources and Further Reading

• Bundesliga – Official Match Report and Highlights
• Bundesliga – Official Match Centre
• Bayer 04 Leverkusen – Official Match Report
• VfB Stuttgart – Official Match Report and Statistics
• Sky Sports – Leverkusen vs Stuttgart Match Report

Editorial note: Match details and statistics are based on the listed sources. Player performance descriptions are editorial observations, not official numerical ratings.