Stuttgart vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-05-13 13:30.
The survival prospects of Stuttgart took yet another hit in the previous round as a second consecutive defeat coupled with a Schalke win dumped the Swabians below the dreaded dotted line. It took a last-minute goal on the final day of last season to save Stuttgart from the relegation play-off, which is where they’re heading as it stands unless they can find some form quickly.
Two points from safety ahead of the round, Stuttgart’s change of manager from Bruno Labbadia to Sebastian Hoeneß has, however, yielded four points from his first two home games (W1, D1), the same return that Labbadia accrued in his final five home games. Welcoming a European challenger won’t particularly scare the new man either, as his side have scored at least twice in all but one of their home league games against top-nine opponents (W4, D1, L3).
Bayer Leverkusen are also no stranger to a new manager bounce as Xabi Alonso has transformed the club from relegation candidates to top-six aspirants since his October appointment. With just nine points to play for and an eight-point gap to the top five (and top four) Leverkusen will likely battle it out to finish in sixth place, a spot which could yet become more attractive should Leipzig win the upcoming DFB-Pokal final.
For all Leverkusen’s improvement, their recent competitive form has left something to be desired (W2, D3, L2). And with little time to ponder a 1-0 defeat to Roma in their Europa League semi-final first leg, it wouldn’t be surprising if Alonso makes wholesale changes here ahead of the home return leg in what is their best chance to pick up a first European trophy since the 1980s.
Players to watch: Serhou Guirassy scored his ninth league goal of the season for Stuttgart last weekend, moving him to just one shy of his personal career-best return in one campaign. As for Leverkusen, Moussa Diaby has a chance to score the match opener in a third straight H2H against Stuttgart and he heads into this in respectable form across his last five appearances (G1, A2).
Hot stat: Leverkusen have defeated Stuttgart more often than any other side in Bundesliga action (W40, D20, L23).