Bayer Leverkusen was forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against VfB Stuttgart in Friday’s Bundesliga clash, despite dominating play and creating multiple scoring chances. Nigerian forward Victor Boniface and winger Nathan Tella featured for Leverkusen, but the hosts were unable to convert their opportunities into goals, leaving the two sides to share the points at the BayArena.
Leverkusen’s relentless attack began from the opening whistle, with Xabi Alonso’s side applying pressure and dictating the pace against a Stuttgart side struggling to maintain possession.
Yet, for all their control, Leverkusen’s inability to finish proved costly.
Edmond Tapsoba came close to giving the home side an early lead, but his powerful header struck the crossbar, highlighting the frustrating night ahead.
Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel was a standout, delivering a series of key saves to deny Leverkusen throughout the match.
Nübel’s first intervention came in the first half, as he thwarted a promising chance from Alejandro Grimaldo, who had broken through the Stuttgart defense.
Moments later, he was called upon again to parry a shot from Jeremie Frimpong, whose attempt looked destined for the back of the net.
Despite failing to find the breakthrough in the opening period, Leverkusen continued to apply pressure in the second half.
Boniface, leading the charge for Leverkusen, was inches away from breaking the deadlock in the 53rd minute when his low shot hit the post, missing by the narrowest of margins.
His efforts didn’t stop there; the Nigerian international later found himself in a one-on-one situation with Nübel in the 73rd minute, only for the Stuttgart keeper to come out on top once more, blocking the effort.
As time wore on, Stuttgart began to show more resilience defensively, focusing on closing down Leverkusen’s key players and making it increasingly difficult for Alonso’s side to find a way through.
Florian Wirtz, who had been probing the Stuttgart defense with well-timed runs, was also denied by Nübel, as the goalkeeper continued to frustrate the home side in the closing stages.
The draw leaves Leverkusen in third place on the Bundesliga table with 16 points, a position they will seek to improve as they prepare for a challenging Champions League fixture against Liverpool on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Stuttgart sits in seventh place with 13 points, earning a crucial away point in a season where they aim to climb further up the league standings.
Leverkusen’s struggle to convert chances into goals will be a concern for Alonso, who has watched his side win only one of their last five Bundesliga outings.
As they look ahead to their midweek European clash, improving their efficiency in front of goal will be a top priority for the manager and his players.
