Patrik Schick will spearhead Bayer Leverkusen's visit to the MHPArena on Saturday as Stuttgart host Leverkusen in a direct showdown that could decide who takes the clearer path into the Champions League in the penultimate Bundesliga matchweek.
Both clubs arrive level on 58 points — Leverkusen fourth, Stuttgart fifth — with Hoffenheim breathing down their necks on the same total. A win here shifts immediate pressure onto the remaining fixtures; for Leverkusen, victory would also be payback for a 4-1 reverse at Stuttgart on January 10.
The raw numbers underline the match's weight. Stuttgart have improved markedly from last season, when they finished ninth with 50 points in 2024-25, but they are now winless in their last three Bundesliga matches, including a 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim on May 2. They have found the net ten times in their last four games, yet have conceded at least two goals in four of their past six top-flight outings — a brittle trade-off between attack and defence.
Leverkusen arrive on the back of a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig on May 2, a performance that produced nine big chances while limiting Leipzig to two. That win extended Leverkusen's run to two consecutive victories and four wins in five league fixtures. Their recent form on the road has been particularly strong: they are unbeaten in five away Bundesliga matches and have scored at least two goals in four of their last six league games, figures that make them a clear offensive threat at the MHPArena.
Context sharpens why this specific match matters now. With only one full league game remaining after Saturday, the table can be reshaped in a single afternoon: winners will carry momentum and a crucial points cushion into the final weekend, while the loser will head into the season's close under fresh pressure from Hoffenheim. Stuttgart's campaign is already an improvement on last year, but stability in defence will be essential if they are to convert that progress into a top-four finish.
The line-ups and absences add texture to the contest. Atakan Karazor is suspended for Stuttgart, and Chema Andres is set to deputise in midfield. Julian Chabot and Ramon Hendriks bring the bulk of Stuttgart's top-flight experience to the backline, having started 24 and 20 matches respectively this campaign. Leverkusen will have Ibrahim Maza and Nathan Tella available, and Schick is expected to be supported by those two attackers, giving Kasper Hjulmand options in how he presses an opponent that can be porous at times.
Tension sits at the heart of the matchup. Stuttgart have kept three clean sheets in five Bundesliga home matches and won three of those five fixtures at the MHPArena, showing they can be resolute in front of their own fans. Yet they have conceded multiple goals frequently in recent weeks. Leverkusen, conversely, have been potent and creative — but they have managed just one clean sheet in seven top-flight matches, exposing a defence that can be punished by teams who press confidently.
What happens next is obvious from the facts: a Leverkusen victory would not only move them above Stuttgart in the table but also set them up to close the season against newly promoted Hamburger SV with momentum and a chance to cement Champions League qualification. For Stuttgart, a result at home would vindicate the season's improvement over 2024-25 and hand them the initiative heading into the final day.
Given Leverkusen's recent scoring form, unbeaten away record and the availability of supporting attackers Ibrahim Maza and Nathan Tella for Schick, they head to the MHPArena as the tougher proposition. Stuttgart's home clean-sheet record keeps the tie alive, but the balance of surging offense and away consistency suggests Leverkusen are more likely to turn this match into the decisive swing in the race for the top four.
