Bayer Leverkusen 1-4 VfB Stuttgart Player Ratings: Four-Goal Rout Helps Stuttgart Go Level On Points With Leverkusen

The Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart fixture in the Bundesliga was a tight affair, but what we witnessed was a complete and utter demolition. VfB Stuttgart arrived at the BayArena and simply dismantled a shell-shocked Bayer 04 Leverkusen side.

It was a stunning display of clinical finishing and relentless attacking football that left the home side reeling. The game was over as a contest long before the half-time whistle was blown.

The onslaught began almost immediately. Jamie Leweling’s early goal in the 7th minute set a devastating tone, a quick counter that sliced Leverkusen open. Before they could even regroup, they conceded a penalty, and Maximilian Mittelstädt coolly dispatched it to double the lead.

Stuttgart were just on another level, playing with a swagger and confidence that was incredible to watch. The star of the show, without a shadow of a doubt, was Deniz Undav.

He was simply sensational, orchestrating the attack with a goal and two assists, pulling the Leverkusen defence apart at will. By the time he netted Stuttgart's fourth just before half-time, the match was already put to bed.

Leverkusen grabbed a consolation penalty in the second half, but it was a mere footnote in a story of Stuttgart's complete and total dominance in this Bundesliga match.

Let's take a look at Bayer Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• VfB Stuttgart beat Bayer Leverkusen 4–1 away at the BayArena, with multiple goals early and before halftime.
• Leverkusen had more possession and expected goals (xG), but Stuttgart was more efficient: Leverkusen held 59% possession with an xG of around 2.60, while Stuttgart had 41% possession and an xG of around 1.83, yet converted their chances better and scored four goals.
• Leverkusen generated more overall attempts but fewer big opportunities: Leverkusen registered 14 total shots compared to Stuttgart’s 10, but Stuttgart created more big chances and took advantage clinically.

VfB Stuttgart Player Ratings vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Here are the VfB Stuttgart Player Ratings from the Bayer Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Alexander Nübel - 7.0: A relatively quiet day, but he was sharp when called upon. He made three crucial saves, including a brilliant one to deny Terrier. What stood out to us was his command of the area; he claimed high balls with confidence, and his distribution was solid. He couldn't do anything about the penalty.

Defenders

Ramon Hendriks - 6.5: A steady, if unspectacular, performance. He handled his defensive duties without much fuss, making five clearances. He kept it simple with his passing, achieving a 91% accuracy. He wasn't tested too severely but did what was required of him professionally.

Josha Vagnoman - 7.5: A bundle of energy down the right flank. His forward runs caused constant problems, and his persistence won his side a crucial penalty in the first half. He was a constant outle,t and his directness was a key part of Stuttgart's attacking plan. A very impressive showing.

Maximilian Mittelstädt - 8.0: Excellent performance from the left-back. He stepped up and dispatched his penalty with ice-cold composure. Defensively, he was a rock, winning an incredible six out of eight duels and making five tackles. He contributed at both ends of the pitch and was a standout performer.

Jeff Chabot - 6.0: A solid defensive outing marred by one significant error. He gave away the penalty for Leverkusen's only goal, which was a real shame. Aside from that moment, he was strong, making four clearances and recovering the ball seven times. A mixed bag, but more good than bad.

Midfielders

Angelo Stiller - 7.0: The conductor in midfield. He dictated the pace of the game, always making himself available for a pass. While he lost possession a few times, his range of passing was excellent, and he created a good chance for Undav. He controlled the middle of the park effectively.

Chris Führich - 7.5: A creative spark for Stuttgart. He provided a brilliant assist for Undav's goal and created two big chances in total. His vision and passing were on point throughout his time on the pitch. We noticed he was always looking to break the lines and make something happen.

Atakan Karazor - 6.0: The captain did the unglamorous work in midfield. He was there to break up play, making five recoveries and two interceptions. It wasn't a flashy performance, and he looked a bit clumsy in some duels. But he provided a necessary defensive screen for his backline.

Jamie Leweling - 8.5: What a game from this man. He was absolutely electric, scoring two fantastic goals that showcased his clinical finishing. He was a constant threat with his movement and pace. From our perspective, his first-half performance completely terrorized the Leverkusen defence. A well-deserved brace.

Nikolas Nartey - 6.0: A hard-working shift but he lacked the quality of his fellow attackers. He was a bit wasteful in possession and struggled to make a decisive impact in the final third. He won a decent number of duels but was the quietest of the attacking players.

Forwards

Deniz Undav - 9.5: Man of the Match. An absolutely breathtaking performance. He was unplayable. He scored one, assisted two more, and was at the heart of everything good Stuttgart did. His movement, link-up play, and finishing were all world-class. It was a complete striker's performance that we won't forget in a hurry.

Manager

S. Hoeneß - 9.0: He got his tactics absolutely perfect. His team was aggressive, organised, and lethal on the counter-attack. The decision to press high and attack from the first whistle paid off spectacularly. He completely out-thought his opposite number and deserves immense credit for this stunning victory.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings vs VfB Stuttgart

Here are the Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings from the Bayer Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mark Flekken - 5.0: A miserable afternoon for the keeper. He was left exposed by his defence for all four goals, but he didn't inspire much confidence himself. He made a couple of saves but looked beaten every time Stuttgart had a clear sight of goal. The yellow card for dissent summed up his frustrating day.

Defenders

Jarell Quansah - 5.5: He was part of a defence that was torn to shreds. He made six clearances, but he and his partner Andrich were pulled all over the place by Undav and Leweling. He passed the ball well, but his primary job is to defend, and on that front, he failed.

Robert Andrich - 5.5: A difficult day for the captain. He was moved into central defence and looked uncomfortable. While his passing was incredibly accurate, he failed to organize the backline. The defence lacked leadership and was carved open far too easily, time and time again.

Jeanuël Belocian - 4.0: A horror show. He looked completely out of his depth from the very first minute. He rashly conceded the penalty for Stuttgart's second goal. It was no surprise to us when he was hooked at half-time after a disastrous 45 minutes.

Midfielders

Ezequiel Fernández - 5.5: He battled hard in midfield but was completely overrun. He was involved in ten duels but lost a fair few of them, struggling to get a grip on Stiller and Karazor. He tried to get his team playing but it was a losing battle against a superior midfield.

Arthur - 4.5: A really poor performance. He lost the ball a shocking 15 times and won only two of his nine duels. He looked off the pace and contributed very little both defensively and offensively. A day he will want to forget quickly.

Alejandro Grimaldo - 6.0: He gets a slightly higher rating for tucking away the penalty. Otherwise, he was largely anonymous and part of a midfield that was dominated. He kept possession well but offered little penetration, and picked up a silly yellow card.

Aleix García - 5.0: A classic case of stats not telling the whole story. He completed 91% of his passes, but they were almost all safe and sideways. He offered no creativity or defensive bite. He was a passenger in a game where his team needed him to take control.

Forwards

Malik Tillman - 6.5: One of the few Leverkusen players to emerge with any credit. He showed some fight and desire, winning the penalty for his team's consolation goal. He was always trying to make things happen, even when the cause was lost. A bright spark in a dark performance.

Martin Terrier - 5.0: He had the chances to make a game of it but his finishing was woeful. He missed a big chance and saw another effort well-saved. On another day he might have had a couple of goals, but today he looked rusty and lacked composure in front of goal.

Nathan Tella - 4.5: Utterly anonymous. He was on the pitch for 45 minutes but we barely noticed him. He had just 26 touches and was caught offside multiple times. Offered no threat whatsoever and was rightly substituted at the break.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 3.0: A tactical disaster. His team looked unprepared, disjointed, and devoid of ideas. The defensive setup was shambolic, and they were outfought and out-thought in every department. He failed to react to Stuttgart's early dominance, and his team paid the ultimate price. A truly awful day at the office.

Man of the Match

Deniz Undav of VfB Stuttgart has been adjudged as Sportsdunia's Man of the Match.

Worst Performer

Jeanuël Belocian was the worst performer in the Bayer Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart fixture.