Hoping to get back to winning ways in the Bundesliga, in-form Bayer Leverkusen will welcome struggling Stuttgart to BayArena on Saturday.

Die Werkself are eyeing an eighth win from nine games this weekend, while Die Roten are looking to build on their DFB-Pokal victory last time out.

Match preview

Carles Martinez Novell's Leverkusen reign may have started with defeat, but the team have grown into a force to be reckoned with in the German top flight.

Die Werkself finished sixth in the division last term, but are currently in the race for Champions League football as they fourth in the table with 13 points, four off top-of-the-tree Bayern Munich and second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

However, Martinez Novell's side were shocked last Sunday, when they were thoroughly beaten 3-0 by Hoffenheim, who scored all of their goals during a dramatic final 15 minutes that also saw a penalty and red card shown to Die Kraichgauer.

On a more positive note, that defeat was Leverkusen's only one from their last 10 matches across all competitions, a run that includes eight wins after their 5-2 cup victory over Nuremberg on Wednesday.

The hosts will be expecting to return to form on Saturday, especially after coming out on top in each of their five matches at BayArena this season, where they have impressively kept three clean sheets.

Meanwhile, Sebastien Hoeness's Stuttgart have endured a contrastingly poor campaign, despite their ambitions of building on Champions League qualification in 2025-26.

As things stand, Die Roten sit 15th in the Bundesliga with only six points to their name after seven matches, a dire return that has the club hanging above the relegation zone on goal difference.

To make matters worse, Hoeness's side arrive for this contest on the back of consecutive top-flight defeats, falling to a 1-0 loss to Hamburger SV before a humiliating 3-2 beating by bottom-of-the-table Borussia Monchengladbach, who were previously without a single point.

That being said, Stuttgart have given fans a glimmer of hope after besting SC Paderborn 1-0 in their DFB-Pokal showdown on Wednesday - their first win in four games.

On the other hand, it is notable that Paderborn were playing with 10 men for the majority of the game, yet Die Roten still required a 90th-minute effort from Deniz Undav to prevail.

Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form:

Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):

Stuttgart Bundesliga form:

Stuttgart form (all competitions):

Team News

Leverkusen will be without wingers Eliesse Ben Seghir and Moussa Diaby due to respective hamstring injuries, while striker Christian Kofane remains unavailable with a thigh problem, and attacking midfielder Martin Terrier has a muscle issue.

In their absence, Patrik Schick should continue up top, supplied by Nathan Tella, Malik Tillman and Ibrahim Maza.

Right-back Guela Doue is also set to be sidelined with a calf injury, defensive midfielder Kennet Eichorn is building fitness after his metabolic disorder stabilised, and centre-back Loic Bade is a doubt due to a clash of heads against Hoffenheim that saw him stretched off.

With that in mind, Facundo Medina looks set to join Edmond Taposba at the heart of the hosts' backline, flanked by Jarell Quansah and Miguel Gutierrez, and shielded by Ezequiel Fernandez and Aleix Garcia in the centre of the park.

As for Stuttgart, they are missing young wingers Justin Diehl and Leo Sauer, who are dealing with thigh and groin injuries, while Tiago Tomas is recovering from a muscle problem, so Emedin Demirovic should start up top, supported by an attacking trio featuring Bilal El Khannouss, Deniz Undav and Chris Fuhrich.

At the opposite end of the pitch, centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou is unavailable due to a hamstring injury - much like right-back Josha Vagnoman - with key defensive midfielder Angelo Stiller a doubt with an adductor issue.

However, Lorenz Assignon, Finn Jeltsch, Jeff Chabot and Maximilian Mittelstadt will be ready to form the visitors' backline, while Grischa Promel and Atakan Karazor operate in a double pivot just in midfield.

Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Quansah, Medina, Tapsoba, Gutierrez; Fernandez, Garcia; Tella, Tillman, Maza; Schick 

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:

Seimen; Assignon, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Promel, Karazor; El Khannouss, Undav, Fuhrich; Demirovic

We say: Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Stuttgart

Leverkusen may have lost to Hoffenheim in their last Bundesliga outing, but it came as a surprise, and the club were able to bounce back in midweek.

Stuttgart also prevailed in their cup clash on Wednesday, though they struggled to break down 10-man Paderborn, and Die Roten are likely to walk away empty handed from BayArena on Saturday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.