In a weekend that demanded peak performance, Stuttgart visited Bayer Leverkusen for Saturday night’s key match. They faced a formidable rival, bolstered by the scrutiny of a large audience, including Rudi Völler, the esteemed former player and sporting director of Leverkusen. Currently the sporting director of the DFB, he remains a local fixture and often attends matches at BayArena.
Völler appreciated the early-season upheaval to the Bundesliga’s status quo, but his perspective was professional rather than personal. Matches between these two teams have been thrilling highlights in recent Bundesliga seasons. Stuttgart, led by the inspiring coach Sebastian Hoeness, has always matched Leverkusen’s intensity, as noted by Völler in a Sunday appearance on Sport1’s popular Doppelpass.
Yet, the narrative for this match diverged sharply. Stuttgart overwhelmed their opponents, racing to a staggering 4-0 halftime lead, with two goals from the standout player Jamie Leweling. New manager Kasper Hjulmand, known for his calm demeanor, was left speechless by the one-sided first half, admitting, “I don’t have a decent explanation for what happened.”
While Leverkusen dealt with absences, including those away at the Africa Cup of Nations and an injury to Patrik Schick, they rarely make excuses. They embody the “next man up” mindset, shown through their performance. However, Stuttgart’s display would have challenged any rival. Völler remarked, “The first 20 or 25 minutes were exceptional,” emphasizing just how rare such a performance has been in Leverkusen.
Stuttgart’s triumph has evened their points with the reigning champions while significantly closing the goal difference gap. The stylish nature of their performance, under Hoeness’s guidance, was memorable. Deniz Undav, returning to form, contributed significantly with a goal and assists. Yet it was Leweling who captured the spotlight, showcasing remarkable talent with two goals—one a late arrival in the box and the other a powerful shot from distance.
Interest in Leweling is growing, with Bournemouth reportedly offering €40m for his services, a bid Stuttgart declined. The club believes keeping Leweling until summer could yield an even higher offer, especially with his potential international appearances on the horizon. Leweling himself expressed a desire to stay, stating, “It’s nice to receive offers, but I feel comfortable here. We have ambitions as a team, and I do too.”
As the Stuttgart team looks forward, Völler acknowledged that not all of their notable players might attend the North Carolina trip in June. Nonetheless, with Hoeness steering their ambitions, Stuttgart appears poised for a promising future, rekindling hopes of further success.
