Stuttgart stun Bayer Leverkusen as Bilal El Khannouss scores in emphatic win

Stuttgart produced a commanding 4-2 victory away to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, with Bilal El Khannouss scoring a fine goal as the Bundesliga side suffered a damaging defeat.

The result moved Stuttgart up to 10th place on nine points, while Bayer Leverkusen remained sixth with 13 points.

Stuttgart made the stronger start and took the lead after 14 minutes. A quick exchange between El Khannouss and Deniz Undav created an opening, forcing goalkeeper Mark Flekken to save the initial effort. Ermedin Demirovic reacted quickest to the rebound and finished from close range.

The visitors doubled their advantage eight minutes later. A corner from Fiorich was headed into the penalty area by Jeff Chabot, before Grischa Promel got a further touch and the ball reached Jamie Leweling. He made no mistake from close range.

Bayer Leverkusen responded in the 28th minute through Patrik Schick. The Czech Republic striker met a corner delivered by Aleix Garcia and powered a header into the net to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The hosts then came close to an equaliser when Ibrahim Maza struck the crossbar with an effort from a corner. Stuttgart hit the woodwork themselves just before half-time, with Leweling’s attempt clipping the bar from the opposite side, leaving the visitors in front at the interval.

Stuttgart restored their two-goal advantage six minutes after the restart. Having dealt with pressure from Bayer Leverkusen, Fiorich found El Khannouss on the left.

The Morocco international carried the ball towards the edge of the penalty area before sending a precise shot from about 20 yards inside the far post. The finish gave Stuttgart a 3-1 lead in the 51st minute.

The visitors extended their advantage again after 65 minutes. Undav delivered an excellent pass across the penalty area towards Demirovic at the far post, and the Bosnia and Herzegovina forward struck firmly from seven yards to score his second goal of the match and Stuttgart’s fourth.

Bayer Leverkusen managed to reduce the margin once more in the 79th minute. Miguel Gutierrez crossed for Maza, who headed the ball into the net at the far post.

There was to be no late comeback, however, as Stuttgart secured a 4-2 win and three points from a match in which El Khannouss provided one of the standout moments with his composed long-range finish.