VfB Stuttgart showcased a dominant performance in the first half, securing a 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen as the Bundesliga resumed after the winter break. The early lead was established by Jamie Leweling, who capitalized on a precise through ball from Deniz Undav to find the net in the seventh minute. Leverkusen struggled to match Stuttgart’s intensity, with Maximilian Mittelstadt extending the lead through a penalty kick in the 29th minute.
Stuttgart’s control continued as Leweling netted a second goal just before halftime, with Undav adding a fourth deep into stoppage time. Despite Leverkusen’s improved showing in the second half, including a goal from Alejandro Grimaldo, Stuttgart’s first-half dominance proved insurmountable. With this win, Stuttgart climbs to fifth place in the league, positioning themselves for a potential UEFA Champions League spot, while Leverkusen slips to fourth.
Looking ahead, Leverkusen aims to bounce back in their upcoming match against Hamburger SV. In other Bundesliga matches, Freiburg secured a 2-1 win over Hamburger SV, Union Berlin and Mainz played to a 2-2 draw, and Cologne settled for a 2-2 draw against Heidenheim.
