Bayer Leverkusen extend unbeaten run to 46 games

Bayer Leverkusen looked down and out as a brilliant Stuttgart side put them two goals down for the first time this season in the Bundesliga. Then the inevitable happened...

Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 StuttgartGoals: 0-1 Führich 47’, 0-2 Undav 57’ (assist: Millot), 1-2 Adli 62’ (assist: Grimaldo) 2-2 Andrich 90+7

Playing at the BayArena as Bundesliga champions for the first time in their 120-year history, the celebrations were in full flow for Leverkusen, but it was clear that everything wasn’t going to go their way. Welcoming Stuttgart, who would be the story of the season if it wasn’t for the runaway champions, the side from the Black Forest looked more than up for the fight. Dominating the early stages of the match, Sebastian Hoeneß’ men barely gave up the ball - an uncomfortable and unfamiliar position for the hosts to be in. VfB top scorer Serhou Guirassy made the best of it, but things soon looked familiar with the best chances falling to B04 who entered the break perhaps disappointed not to lead through Alejandro Grimaldo or Patrik Schick - who should have put away a rebound on the half-hour mark.

Xabi Alonso likely only made a few minor tweaks in the dressing room at half-time, but was left with his head in his hands two minutes after the restart when Chris Führich opened the scoring with his third of the season against Leverkusen. Firing in on the rebound, the Germany international sparked wild celebrations in the away end, but there was more to come. Ten minutes later the BayArena was silenced as Denis Undav brilliantly steered in a strike from the edge of the box. It was the first time Die Werkself’s fans had seen their side two goals down all season in the Bundesliga, but that unfamiliar sensation didn’t last for long when Amine Adli matched Undav with another perfectly placed effort into the corner of the net. Given Leverkusen’s comebacks this campagin, another goal felt inevitable, particularly when Alexander Nübel parried Adli’s effort into the path of Jonas Hoffman for what looked like an open goal. However - the star stopper got up brilliantly for an astonishing double save. The match then became a battle between Guirassy and Lukáš Hrádecký, and the Leverkusen captain and goalkeeper came out on top, setting up another stunning late show. In the seventh and final minute of stoppage time, Leverkusen saw another chaotic set piece directed into the box by substitute Florian Wirtz, and there was Robert Andrich to smash home perhaps the most astonishing goal yet during a season full of them.

Match stats

• Alex Grimaldo now has the most assists in a single season (13) of any Leverkusen player since Opta began collecting data in 2004/05.
• The Spanish fullback also has the most assists of any player in Europe's 'big five' leagues.
• Leverkusen's 46-game unbeaten is an on-going record among teams in Europe's top five leagues.
• The 2023/24 champions are the first team in Bundesliga history to go 31 games without loss.
• Leverkusen can now no longer beat Bayern’s points record of 91 from the 2012/13 season.
• Guirassy (25 goals), Undav (18) and Führich (8) are the most prolific scoring trio in Stuttgart's history (beating 49 from Bobic, Élber and Balakov in 1996/97 season).

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Teams

Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Kossounou, Tah (Hincapié 46'), Tapsoba - Frimpong (Tella 89'), Palacios, Andrich, Grimaldo (Stanišić 89') - Hofmann (Wirtz 74'), Adli, Schick (Boniface 74')Unused subs: Kovář, Arthur, Mbamba, PuertaOut: Hložek (ankle), Iglesias (muscular), Xhaka (suspended)Coach: Xabi Alonso

Stuttgart: Nübel - Stergiou (Rouault 81'), Anton, (c), Ito - Leweling (Stenzel 90+2'), Karazor, Millot (Dahoud 74'), Mittelstädt - Undav (Jeong 74'), Führich (Silas 81') - GuirassyUnused subs: Bredlow, Haraguchi, RaimundOut: Massimo (muscular), Nartey (knee), Stiller (suspended), Vagnoman (metatarsal), Zagadou (knee)Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß