90'
+ 4

THANKS FOR YOUR COMPANY!

Well that's about it for this afternoon's live text coverage. We've seen a great match already, but there's plenty more to come shortly with Hertha Berlin hosting , as we'll be bringing you Leverkusen vs Fortuna Düsseldorf and Frankfurt vs Gladbach. See you then!
90'
+ 4

STUTTGART STRUGGLING

For VfB, the troubles continue. That's now six defeats in seven and they remain 16th in the table, but they and the supporters can be proud of a committed display today.
90'
+ 4

FULL TIME!

Leipzig take three valuable points in their bid to qualify for the Champions League. They were second best for large parts of this game, but turned on the style when it mattered at a key point in the second half, with Sabitzer's free-kick proving a turning point.
Full-time
90'

NO STING IN THE TAIL

Leipzig have done an impressive job of shutting this game down since opening up a two-goal lead. Stuttgart, for all their efforts, have been unable to find the killer finish today.
85'

GOAL DISALLOWED

Gomez takes down an impossibly high ball and holds off Klostermann, before poking a briliant finish into the corner. Sadly for him, the flag was up for offside.
82'

POULSEN ON FIRE

Danish striker Poulsen has now scored five Bundesliga braces, all of them coming this season. 
77'

AGONY AND ECSTASY

Weinzierl brings on Daniel Didavi for Castro. His side are looking at a six defeat in seven, but Leipzig are all smiles. A win here will take them to 41 points, six ahead of Wolfsburg, who currently occupy fifth, and eight ahead of Frankfurt, who host Gladbach tomorrow.
75'

POULSEN GETS A SECOND

The anwer to that looks likely to be no, as Leipzig show their ruthless side again to mak it 3-1. Adams is the creator, after a powerful run and a neat pass into Poulsen, who kept his composure to find the bottom corner.
74'
Yussuf Poulsen
72'

CAN THE HOSTS RECOVER?

You have to feel for Stuttgart here. They have competed very well and had two good chances to go in front since they equalised, but they now look a little deflated, despite the crowd's encouragement, since that wondergoal from Sabitzer. Can they come back?
69'

SABITZER STRIKES!

Ou of nothing, the visitors are back in front. Kabak tries to nip in front of Poulsen and win the ball, and only succeeds in giving away a free-kick. Marcel Sabitzer steps over it and curls a beauty into the top corner from just over 20 yards. Ron-Robert Zieler was rooted to the spot. 
68'
Marcel Sabitzer
64'

GULACSI AGAIN!

Leipzig are indebted to their man between the posts for another excellent stop. Esswein starts the attack by powering past Upamecano and into the penalty area. He crosses and finds Mario Gomez, who's able to control the ball and recycle it to Ascacibar. The Argentine shoots on the volley and makes good contact, but Gulacsi produces a strong one-handed save.
61'

FORSBERG OFF, BRUMA ON

It's not been the Swede's greatest display. On comes the Portugese winger Bruma to try and liven up a Leipzig attack that has struggled to create a clear chance since the restartl.
59'

Substitution

52'

ADAMS LOOKING LIVELY

We've not mentioned much of Tyler Adams yet, but the USA international has been involved in some good moves since the restart. He plays a neat one-two and bursts into the box, before his cross is cleared. 
50'

PAVARD TO THE RESCUE

Diego Demme looks up and springs a pass over the top for Werner to chase. He reaches it and is about to pull the trigger, before Bayern Munich-bound defender Benjamin Pavard steams in with a smartly timed challenge to clear for a corner. The corner itself comes to nought.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 2

SAVE!

Gulacsi keeps the scores level going into the break with a brilliant save from a close range header! Gonzalo Castro's delivery was wicked, and that looked a goal all the way until the Hungarian intervened. 
45'

SECOND HALF

And we're back underway! Who'll get the next goal? Let's find out.
45'

HALF TIME!

After a terrible start, Stuttgart recovered and ended that half on top. The challenges are flying in and there is incident at both ends, so don't be suprised to see more goals - and cards - in the second half. Join us shortly!
40'

CAULDRON OF NOISE

The stadium may be betraying some empty seats but the atmosphere is electric here. Ascacibar and Beck both put in two full-blooded challenges within seconds of each other, and a free-kick is given. Werner is then fouled by Beck - who seems to be walking something of a tightrope - and the crowd is incensed that another free-kick is given. They're letting Werner know it, too.
38'

GULACSI TAKING NO CHANCES

Leipzig's Hungarian 'keeper charges off his line to head clear a ball over the top intended for Esswein. Good goalkeeping from one of the older heads in this youthful Leipzig side.
31'

WERNER IN THE WARS

He's been prominent in the game so far and Werner is on the ground in some pain after a challenge from Beck. He gets gingerly to his feet as play resumes. There's no card for the Stuttgart defender, just a talking to from the man in black. Moments later Werner is barged to the ground, fairly, by Ozan Kabak, having run on to the loose ball from a offside position. The home fans enjoyed that, and it's clear they're not prepared to give their former homegrown hero a warm welcome back his old stomping ground. 
23'

CASTRO IN THE BOOK

Gonzalo Castro cleans out Marcel Sabitzer with an agricultural-looking tackle in his own half, and is shown a yellow card. From the free-kick, Marcel Halstenberg's delivery isn't a good one and the ball's headed clear.
19'

WERNER GOES CLOSE!

This is a really entertaining match. Stuttgart have a spring in their step now they're level, but Leipzig remain very dangerous in transition. Lukas Klostermann releases Werner into the penalty area, and the Germany international fires one across goal. It misses the post by a fine margin, with Poulsen also unable to stick a leg on the end of it.
17'

EMPHATIC FROM ZUBER

That's a confident penalty struck by new signing Steven Zuber, hard and low to the goalkeeper's right, and Stuttgart are level. The fans go wild! You can see what that goal meant to Zuber, and to his coach Weinzierl on the touchline.
16'

Steven Zuber

GOAL!

1:1
Steven Zuber
14'

PENALTY TO STUTTGART!

Mario Gomez headed a cross towards goal that struck WIlly Orban and rolled out for a corner. The referee was instructed to check with assistants, who consulted VAR, and a handball is given!
14'

VAR CHECK

Stand by...
11'

STUTTGART RESPONDING WELL

This has been a decent response by the hosts since going behind. The early goal was a nightmare start for a team that has lost five of its last six, but the home fans continue to make some impressive noise. On halfway, Santiago Ascacibar's heart skips a beat as he gives the ball away to Werner, but Andreas Beck steps in to make a crucial interception. 
6'

DISASTROUS START

That good start from Stuttgart has been undone by some lax defending at the other end. Former home favourite Werner is freed in the box and sends in a cross that causes havoc on the six-yard line. The ball bounces off a defender's knee and Youssuf Poulsen has the simple task of lashing home from close range.
6'
Yussuf Poulsen
Kick-off!

And away we go at the Mercedes-Benz Arena!

LEIPZIG XI

Gulacsi – Klostermann, Konate, Orban (c), Halstenberg – Sabitzer, Adams, Demme, Forsberg – Werner, Poulsen Subs: Mvogo, Saracchi, Ilsanker, Bruma, Cunha, Mukiele, Augustin

TEAMS ARE IN!

Here's the VfB Stuttgart XI: Zieler - Pavard, Kabak, Kempf - Beck, Ascacibar, Castro, Insua - Esswein, Zuber – Gomez (c) Subs: Grahl, Didavi, Donis, Thommy, Gentner, Sosa, Badstuber

WERNERS RETURN

This game will be a special occasion for Timo Werner. The Leipzig and Germany striker grew up supporting Stuttgart and is a local lad, having broken into the team as a 17-year-old sensation in 2013/14. He scored  14 goals in 103 competitive appearances for Stuttgart and remains the club’s youngest ever player to appear and score in the Bundesliga (17 years old). He is Leipzig’s top scorer in 2018/19 with 11 goals and is yet to score against his former club in three appearance. Will he break that duck today?

LEIPZIG LOOKING GOOD FOR TOP FOUR

Today visitors have altogether different ambitions at the other end of the Bundesliga table. Ralf Rangnick's men are fourth in the table with a five-point cushion over Eintracht Frankfurt in fifth. The Saxons began 2019 with a home loss to leaders Borussia Dortmund but have since responded with wins over Düsseldorf and Hannover and a draw with the Eagles, keeping three clean sheets in the process. With Eintracht hosting third-placed Gladbach this weekend, Leipzig have a great opportunity to cement fourth spot in the race for Champions League qualification.

CAN STUTTGART ARREST THE SLIDE?

As mentioned below, the home side are on a poor run of form, a six-match winless run that is actually their longest without a victory since they were promoted back to the top flight in 2017. New coach Markus Weinzierl, appointed back in October, has overseen just three wins from his 14 games in charge and his side are currently three adrift of the safety of 15th.

GOOD MORNING!

How are we all on this fine Saturday morning? The weather is improving, we're getting closer to spring and the Bundesliga season is back in full swing again. Marvellous! On the agenda for our live text coverage today is the visit of European hopefuls RB Leipzig to struggling Stuttgart, the side that have conceded more goals - 47 - than any team in the division and have taken just one point from their last six league games. The form guide points to an away win, but this league can be unpredictable... Join us for all the build-up, action and reaction right here!

Welcome along to the match centre for the game Stuttgart vs. RB Leipzig from matchday 22 of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Check back here for full information on the match.