Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart Preview: Team News & Prediction

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After finally gaining their first points of the season, Bayer Leverkusen are now battling to catch all those above them as they take on Stuttgart.

Kick-off date/time: 31 October 2026 at 2:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN+

Bayer Leverkusen preview: Momentum dented

After three consecutive Bundesliga victories against high-level opposition in RB Leipzig, Mainz and Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen's push towards the top of the table took a dent last Sunday, as they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by strugglers Hoffenheim. That result allowed the hosts to leap up the table, while Leverkusen remain in the top four but missed an opportunity to close the gap on both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Leverkusen now have the chance to bounce back, and they showed positive signs in the DFB-Pokal midweek, thrashing Nurnberg 5-2 at the BayArena. They’ll be keen to carry that momentum back into the league this weekend.

Stuttgart preview: Sliding towards trouble

Stuttgart’s domestically woes continue and the pressure keeps piling up on head coach Sebastian Hoeness. Despite playing in the Champions League this season, their recent Bundesliga results have been awful, with four defeats in their last five games. Back-to-back losses now leave them above the bottom three on goals scored only.

The most recent of those defeats was the worst of them all, coming at home to rock-bottom Borussia Monchengladbach. Without a single point to their name heading into the game, Gladbach came to Stuttgart and, despite falling behind, wound up winning by three goals to two.

Bayer Leverkusen team news: Potential rotation

Carles Martinez has plenty of riches behind Patrik Schick to choose from despite having to contend with a number of absentees such as Ben Seghir, Kofane and Terrier.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Quansah, Tapsoba, Medina, Gutierrez; Garcia, Fernandez; Moreira, Maza, Tillman; Schick

Unavailable: Bade (Injured), Ben Seghir (Injured), Diaby (Injured), Doue (Injured), Eichhorn (Illness), Kofane (Injured), Terrier (Injured)

Questionable: 

Stuttgart team news: Injuries add to problems

Stuttgart’s cause is not being helped by missing players, with several out as a result of injury. Diehl, Stiller, Tomas, Vagnoman and Zagadou are just some of those unavailable.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Seimen; Assignon, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Promel, Karazor; El Khannouss, Undav, Fuhrich; Demirovic

Unavailable: Diehl (Injured), Malanga (Injured), Sauer (Injured), Stiller (Injured), Tomas (Injured), Vagnoman (Injured), Zagadou (Injured)

Questionable: 

Key stats

• Stuttgart won both Bundesliga meetings last season, 4-1 at the BayArena on 10 January 2026 and 3-1 at home on 9 May 2026 – their first league double over Leverkusen since 2002/03. 
• That 4-1 was Stuttgart's biggest win in 29 Bundesliga visits to Leverkusen since 1995/96. 
• Leverkusen still lead the Bundesliga head-to-head since 1995/96 with 33 wins to Stuttgart's 12 (D13) in 58 meetings. 
• Leverkusen have lost only four of 29 home meetings (W17 D8) but are winless in the last three (D2 L1); their biggest home win in the fixture was 6-1 on 20 December 1997. 
• Leverkusen are fourth with 13 points coming into Matchweek 8, level with third-placed Freiburg. 
• Leverkusen have won all three home games this season (8-1 on aggregate), keeping clean sheets against Union Berlin (4-0) and Leipzig (2-0), and are unbeaten in five home games since a 1-2 defeat to Augsburg on 18 April 2026. 
• Leverkusen have scored in 22 consecutive Bundesliga home games since 26 April 2025. 
• Leverkusen lost 0-3 at Hoffenheim last time out and have conceded in each of their last six away games. 
• Stuttgart are 15th with six points and have already lost five games – their most defeats after seven games since 2015/16 (six). 
• Stuttgart have lost their last two games, 0-1 at Hamburg and 2-3 at home to Gladbach – Gladbach's first win of the season. 
• Stuttgart have won only one of four away games this season (W1 L3), 2-0 at Paderborn. 

‘Key stats’ are Bundesliga only (not all competitions)

Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart prediction

You can’t help but be concerned by Stuttgart right now. The magic of last season seems to have faded away and the squad are struggling to cope with the demand of domestic and European football. This opens the door for Bayer Leverkusen to take advantage and with the attacking ability within their squad, you’d expect them to do so.

Stuttgart has the personnel to hurt Leverkusen, but confidence is clearly low within the squad and at the BayArena, it’s well worth backing the hosts to create enough opportunities to get the better of their opponents and drag themselves back to winning ways in the Bundesliga at the first time of asking.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart tip: Bayer Leverkusen to win