Ermedin Demirović bags brace as VfB Stuttgart shine at Bayer Leverkusen
Ermedin Demirović scored twice as a powerful show of attacking from VfB Stuttgart saw them to a statement away win as Bayer Leverkusen lost at home for the first time this season.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-4 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Demirović 14', 0-2 Leweling 22', 1-2 Schick 28' (assist: García), 1-3 El Khannouss 51' (assist: Führich), 1-4 Demirović 65' (assist: Undav), 2-4 Maza 79' (assist: Gutiérrez)
Carles Martínez made five changes to the side that had won in the DFB Cup during the week, including a first Bundesliga start in two months for Lucas Vázquez. Sebastian Hoeneß also rotated his line-up, naming Dennis Seimen, Luca Jaquez, Atakan Karazor and Chris Führich in place of Fabian Bredlow, Lorenz Assignon, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Angelo Stiller, who missed out with an adductor injury.
Demirović strikes as Stuttgart race clear
Stuttgart made the perfect start. In the 14th minute, a swift one-two between Bilal El Khannouss and Deniz Undav forced Mark Flekken into a save, and Demirović turned the loose ball home.
Eight minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead when a corner from Führich was headed on by Jeff Chabot, nudged further by Grischa Prömel, and bundled in from close range by Jamie Leweling.
Leverkusen responded through Patrik Schick, who powered home a header from an Aleix García corner in the 28th minute to make it 1-2. Ibrahim Maza then struck the crossbar from a corner, and right on the stroke of half-time, Leweling also rattled the woodwork at the other end as the sides went in with Stuttgart ahead 2-1.
El Khannouss and Demirović extend the lead
Stuttgart began the second half as they had the first. After Leverkusen pressure was repelled, Führich released El Khannouss down the left, and the Moroccan drove to the edge of the box before placing a shot inside the far post from around 20 yards to make it 3-1.
The visitors then struck again in the 65th minute as Undav found Demirović at the far post with a perfect pass across goal, and the Bosnian rifled the ball in from seven yards out for his second of the match and Stuttgart's fourth.
Leverkusen pulled a goal back in the 79th minute when Miguel Gutiérrez crossed for Maza, who headed in at the far post to make it 4-2, but the hosts could not find another way through, and Stuttgart held on.
Player of the Match: Ermedin Demirović
Demirović scored twice, turning home a parried effort in the 14th minute and rifling in from Undav's pass in the 65th. He was named Player of the Match with 65 percent of the vote.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1.77 - VfB Stuttgart 3.23
Fastest player: Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), 33.41 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-4 by Ibrahim Maza (Leverkusen), 5 percent
Most pressed player: Ibrahim Maza (Leverkusen)
Pass efficiency: Jarell Quansah (Leverkusen), +6
Fantasy Heroes: Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart, 337 Points), Ibrahim Maza (Leverkusen, 298 Points), Ermedin Demirović (Stuttgart, 295 Points)
