This time, the match between Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart was surprisingly unspectacular. The draw is a setback, especially for the superior hosts.

In a top match full of missed chances, Bayer Leverkusen suffered another setback in the battle for the top of the table. After a late 2-2 draw in Bremen a week ago, the German soccer champions missed out on another Bundesliga victory despite clear superiority in a 0-0 draw against second-placed VfB Stuttgart.

While Leverkusen could even slip from third place over the weekend, Stuttgart are in danger of sliding into mid-table. Nevertheless, the visitors can consider the point in the Rhineland a gain, even if they have now gone 14 competitive games without a win against Leverkusen.

Numerous goals, last-minute decisions, red cards: when the two teams met in the recent past, there was almost everything except boredom. This time, the omens were slightly different. Bayer and VfB continued to pursue their fundamentally offensive game plan, but in view of their surprising defensive weaknesses this season, they initially focused on stability.

Leverkusen had conceded 15 goals in their previous games, Stuttgart even 16, so Friday evening started in a controlled manner. Leverkusen dominated the game from the start and had good chances to score through Jeremie Frimpong (12th minute) and Alejandro Grimaldo (14th), but Alexander Nübel made two strong saves. Otherwise, both defenses didn’t allow much at first.

Surprising change by Alonso

Somewhat surprisingly, Bayer coach Alonso switched to a back four. Nordi Mukiele moved into the starting line-up, allowing Grimaldo and Frimpong to play even more offensively on the wings. However, VfB failed to get into the game mainly because Bayer deliberately tried to take Atakan Karazor and Angelo Stiller out of the game in midfield.

Both were hardly given a look in as they were repeatedly disrupted early on by Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich. As a result, Stuttgart were virtually non-existent and were lucky not to fall behind. Edmond Tapsoba (41) and Victor Boniface (45+1) had further good chances with their heads.

The visitors, on the other hand, offered little in attack. VfB stood out, if at all, for individual errors. Youngster Anrie Chase, who was standing in for suspended defensive stalwart Jeff Chabot, was particularly guilty of a number of misplaced passes in the build-up play. Shortly after the break, the 20-year-old set up a great chance for Leverkusen, but Boniface (54) hit the post.

The big chance was, in a sense, the prelude to a much more exciting final phase. First, Deniz Undav (62) had the first good chance for Stuttgart, then Frimpong (66) headed just wide. A few minutes later, Boniface suddenly appeared unmarked in front of the VfB goal, but Nübel was again on hand to save. And that was all there was to see from Bayer on the night.