Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Stuttgart: Stuttgart Hold Wasteful Bayer Leverkusen

Stuttgart held defending champions Bayer Leverkusen to a goalless draw on Friday, frustrating the home side and exposing cracks in their title defense. Leverkusen, who dropped just 12 points in their unbeaten charge to the title last season, have already let 11 slip this campaign and could end the weekend trailing league leaders Bayern Munich by seven points.

In a clash between last season’s top two, Leverkusen dominated possession and created multiple scoring opportunities. Victor Boniface, Florian Wirtz, and Jeremie Frimpong each had chances but failed to find the net.

Frimpong's 32nd-minute goal was ruled out for offside, and Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel’s crucial save on Boniface just before halftime kept the match scoreless. Stuttgart managed just one clear chance themselves, with Germany striker Deniz Undav's shot narrowly missing the right post at the 60-minute mark.

Leverkusen’s missed chances continued, with Frimpong heading wide from a Wirtz cross in the 66th minute, and Boniface squandering a one-on-one with Nübel in the closing stages. Unlike last season’s late-game heroics, Leverkusen couldn’t find a breakthrough, settling for a frustrating draw.

The result leaves Leverkusen with work to do as they prepare for a high-stakes Champions League match on Tuesday against Liverpool, one of only two teams boasting a perfect record in the competition.

This weekend, league leaders Bayern Munich face Union Berlin, while RB Leipzig, who trail Bayern only on goal difference, take on a struggling Borussia Dortmund.

SportsLigue