This clash was a high-stakes encounter for both outfits, with Leverkusen looking to overtake Wolfsburg who currently occupy the last guaranteed European position, while the Swabians were seeking to exit the automatic relegation places. With a lot riding on this fixture at the business end of the season, it was Xabi Alonso’s reinvigorated side that began the game on the front foot, which led to Mitchel Bakker and Sardar Azmoun firing early chances wide of the target.
Stuttgart, who emerged victorious from their last league home game against Borussia Monchengladbach, grew into the game following the visitors’ early attempts, but Hiroki Ito failed to trouble Lukas Hradecky with a strike from distance, as the ball sailed past the post and out of play. The two teams continued to push on as they went in search of the all-important breakthrough, although a lack of quality in the final third saw both sides head down the tunnel for the interval without registering a single attempt on target.
The action picked up a few minutes following the restart, as Stuttgart saw a penalty appeal for a challenge on Josha Vagnoman waved away. Moments later though, the Swabians would get their spot-kick when Exequiel Palacios was brought down by Wataru Endo.
Serhou Guirassy confidently stepped up and audaciously chipped down the middle to net his 10th Bundesliga goal of the campaign to give Stuttgart the lead.
More drama unfolded down at the other end of the pitch, as a VAR review was called when Leverkusen appealed for a penalty of their own.
Leverkusen were ultimately awarded the decision, and Palacios made no mistake from the spot, atoning for his earlier error to pull his team level.
The Swabians came close to restoring their advantage minutes later, but an unmarked Vagnoman mistimed his point-blank header and somehow only guided the ball wide. Edmond Tapsoba fired over the bar for Leverkusen late on, but neither team was able to find a winner, with the draw leaving Stuttgart two points from safety, while Leverkusen move level with Wolfsburg in the top-six ahead of their UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg against Roma on Thursday.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart)
