Bundesliga - "We dare to do it": VfB want to be the first to beat Leverkusen
VfB Stuttgart want to inflict Bayer Leverkusen's first defeat of the season in the top match of the Bundesliga. "It's a nice, exciting task to possibly be first," said VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß on Friday when asked whether the third-placed team in the table could beat the leaders on Sunday (3.30 pm/DAZN). "We have the confidence - at home with the fans - to really annoy them."
Leverkusen have yet to lose in any of their three competitions this season. Coach Xabi Alonso's side are through to the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup and have already reached the last 16 of the Europa League as group winners. Nevertheless, Stuttgart are confident after their top-class cup performance on Wednesday in their 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.
"It will be exciting to see how we are able to put Leverkusen through phases that they may not have experienced often before. That they don't have control of the game themselves," explained Hoeneß. He also hinted that he may once again opt for a front two with top goalscorer Serhou Guirassy and Deniz Undav.
While Hoeneß is still without defender Hiroki Ito (thigh injury), the visitors are still worried about the participation of international Florian Wirtz. The attacking player suffered an ankle injury in the DFB Cup against SC Paderborn (3:1). "He's feeling better every day, but we'll have to wait and see," said Bayer coach Xabi Alonso.
VfB Stuttgart squad Bayer Leverkusen squad
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Source: www.stern.de
