Bundesliga matchday 8 brings Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart together at BayArena on 31 October 2026, with Leverkusen sitting fourth on 13 points from seven matches and a goal difference of +4, coming off a 0 3 home defeat to Hoffenheim on 25 October. Stuttgart arrive 15th on six points from seven games, goal difference 3, with the bottom three just one defeat away.
There is no head to head record between Carles Martínez Novell and Sebastian Hoeneß to work from. Leverkusen have won three of their last four, the Hoffenheim result being the only blemish in an otherwise settled run, whereas Stuttgart have managed just two wins in seven outings, which is how you end up 15th with the relegation zone looming. Both squads are fully fit, so neither coach has any built in excuses going into this.
Leverkusen build through possession with Aleix Garcia at the centre of midfield and Patrik Schick providing the end product up front as the league's top scorer on six goals. Stuttgart's centre backs will need to track him tightly inside the box if they want to keep him from getting shots off. Ermedin Demirovic and Deniz Undav lead the line for Stuttgart, with Undav the trickier problem of the two, capable of dragging defenders out of shape by dropping deep or running in behind depending on what the moment demands.
Leverkusen lead the all time record 46 wins to Stuttgart's 25 across 95 meetings, though Stuttgart have won the last two. Hoeneß will want that again but the record is the record.
Leverkusen 1 0 VfB Stuttgart. Leverkusen should generate enough at home, with a full squad and Schick in the form he is in, to settle this with a single decisive moment from him or Garcia. Six points from seven is a hard tally to arrive with and after the Hoffenheim embarrassment Leverkusen will be intent on a response in front of their own supporters.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
