VfB Stuttgart ended a two-match losing streak with a 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena on Saturday.
Ermedin Demirović opened the scoring in the 14th minute, capitalizing on a rebound after Mark Flekken saved Bilal El Khannouss’s shot. Jamie Leweling doubled the lead in the 22nd minute before Patrik Schick pulled one back for Leverkusen in the 29th. El Khannouss restored Stuttgart’s two-goal advantage in the 51st minute, and Demirović added his second in the 65th. Ibrahim Maza’s 79th-minute header set the final score.
The match was physical, with referee Benjamin Brand issuing four yellow cards at once after a mass confrontation in the 40th minute. Leverkusen, who had avoided a home loss this season, created chances but failed to recover from Stuttgart’s early dominance.
Stuttgart’s win, their third of the season, lifts them out of the relegation zone and into mid-table. Demirović, with five league goals this term, was named player of the match. The result also served as a strong warm-up for Stuttgart’s Champions League fixture against Galatasaray on Tuesday .
