Bayer Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart: Betting Odds & Prediction

Recently-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen return to the Bay Arena to take on third-placed VfB Stuttgart on Saturday evening. 

Leverkusen have won all but two of their 15 home outings so far this season, and face a team with the fourth-best away record in the division. Kick-off is set for 5:30pm UK time. 

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Bayer Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso's side's incredible form has been well-documented this season. Having already captured the Bundesliga title, Leverkusen are also in the semi-finals of the Europa League and will play in the final of the DfB Pokal next month. Remarkably, they are still yet to lose a single match in all competitions as we head into the final month of the 2023/2024 season. 

This record was close to ending in their most recent outing when they trailed 1-0 behind at Borussia Dortmund, courtesy of an 81st minute Niclas Füllkrug strike. However, for the fourth time since March, Leverkusen netted a stoppage time goal to earn a point at Signal Iduna Park. 

That draw is the only occasion they've dropped points in their last eleven Bundesliga matches. The last time before that was a 0-0 home draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach in January - one of the only two home fixtures they've not won. 

Only Bayern Munich have scored more than Leverkusen's 75 goals this term, leaving them with an average of 2.5 per game (2.87) at home. They also boast the best defensive record so far, conceding an impressive 20 goals this season, with only eight of those conceded on home soil. 

Stuttgart

The away side are on track to record a top four finish for the first time since 2020 under manager Sebastian Hoeneß. Having gone unbeaten in eleven Bundesliga matches, Stuttgart headed to mid-table Werder Bremen seemingly destined to secure another three points only to eventually suffer a 2-1 defeat at the Weser Stadium. 

They still sit third in the table, four points ahead of fourth-placed RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund in fifth, and have the opportunity to extend the gap further with those two sides below them set to face-off earlier in the day. 

Scoring goals hasn't been a problem for Hoeneß' men, who have averaged 2.27 goals per game so far this season. While this drops to 1.67 in away fixtures, Stuttgart have still scored in 80% of matches on the road so far. 

The main reason why they haven't fared as well on away soil has been due to the amount of goals they've conceded. Despite averaging 0.93 shipped at home, the figure increases significantly to 1.47 in away matches. Only 27% have ended in a clean sheet. 

Prediction

It's impossible to pick against a side who are yet to taste defeat as we head towards the end of April. Though the laws of averages suggest a Leverkusen loss is a mere inevitability at some point, they rightly enter the match strong favourites as they return to play in front of their home fans for the first time since capturing the Bundesliga title two weeks ago. 

The goalscoring exploits of the champions have been superb all season, and Leverkusen have registered three or more goals in an astounding 60% of home fixtures so far. OddsNow expect the hosts to continue this trend on Saturday evening. 

OddsNow's Pick: Over 2.5+ home goals scored (15/8 @ Betfair)