Bayer Leverkusen suffered a 4-2 home defeat to VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday. The loss on matchday eight leaves the club fourth in the table with 13 points from seven games, having recorded four wins, one draw and two losses. They now sit four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
VfB Stuttgart took an early lead at the BayArena. Ermedin Demirović opened the scoring in the 14th minute and Jamie Leweling doubled the advantage just eight minutes later. Patrik Schick, Leverkusen's top scorer this season with six goals in seven appearances, pulled one back with a header from an Aleix García cross in the 28th minute. Stuttgart struck twice more after the break. Bilal El Khannouss made it 3-1 in the 51st minute before Demirović completed his brace in the 65th. Ibrahim Maza scored a late consolation for Leverkusen in the 79th minute. The team's season tally now stands at 16 goals scored and 12 conceded.
Bayer Leverkusen manager Carles Martínez was booked for dissent in the 18th minute. His side dominated possession with 63 percent and had 24 shots but only found the net twice. Stuttgart were more clinical, scoring four times from seven shots on target. The visitors received four yellow cards, matching Leverkusen's total, which included bookings for Equi Fernández and Facundo Medina.
Leverkusen must now regroup quickly. Their next challenge comes on Thursday in the Europa League against Olympique Marseille. Carles Martínez's team will aim to bounce back in Europe after a domestic setback, having recently beaten Nürnberg 5-2. Their recent form across the last five matches shows three wins and two defeats, including a 3-0 away loss to Hoffenheim. The full standings show Leverkusen level on points with VfB Stuttgart in fourth. Their next Bundesliga fixture is away to 1. FC Köln, who are 12th in the table, on Sunday 8 November.
On October 31, Bayer Leverkusen lost 2-4 to Stuttgart. Upon his substitution in the 75th minute, record signing Malik Tillman was booed by sections of the fans. Sporting director Simon Rolfes said, "I didn't experience it as that extreme." Manager Carles Martínez addressed the issue openly. "We are working with him because his mentality is sometimes fragile," said Martínez. A separation in the winter is considered likely.
