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Bayer Leverkusen will welcome Stuttgart to BayArena in the DFL-Supercup on Saturday. The hosts completed the league double last season and the visitors qualified for the competition as the Bundesliga runners-up.
The hosts are playing the competition for just the second time and in their maiden appearance, they finished as runners-up in 1993. The visitors have also made just one appearance in the competition, winning it in 1992.
The hosts were winless in their three friendlies this month and played out a 1-1 draw against Real Betis last week. Defender Jeanuël Belocian scored in the 79th minute after Juanmi gave Betis the lead.
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The visitors enjoyed an unbeaten record in five friendlies in the pre-season, recording four wins. They concluded the pre-season with a 4-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao. Silas Katompa Mvumpa and Ermedin Demirovic scored in the first half while Silas and Nick Woltemade added goals in the second half.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have locked horns 90 times in all competitions. The hosts have the upper hand in these meetings with 44 wins. The visitors have 23 wins and 23 games have ended in draws.
- The hosts are unbeaten in their last 12 meetings against the visitors. They met thrice last season, with the two Bundesliga matches ending in draws and Leverkusen recording a win in the DFB-Pokal quarterfinal in February.
- Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten at home in all competitions since May 2023.
- Stuttgart concluded the 2023-24 season on a four-game unbeaten run, recording three wins on the spin.
- The visitors have suffered just two losses in all competitions since February, with one of them coming against Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart Prediction
Die Werkself have an impressive home record in all competitions, winning 10 of the 12 games. They are unbeaten in their last seven home meetings against the visitors, recording six wins. They have scored at least two goals in each of these games.
Exequiel Palacios is the only injury concern for head coach Xabi Alonso, who is expected to field a strong starting XI, as he looks to add to his trophy count.
Die Schwaben have drawn three of their last four meetings against Leverkusen. They have just one win in this fixture since 2010, with that triumph coming in an away game in the Bundesliga in 2018. Leonidas Stergiou, Dan-Axel Zagadou, and Josha Vagnoman are nursing injuries and are not yet an option for this match.
While the visitors had a better pre-season than the hosts, considering Leverkusen's dominance in this fixture and home record, the reigning Bundesliga champions are expected to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Stuttgart
Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Bayer Leverkusen to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Victor Boniface to score or assist any time - Yes
