Man of the Match: Nubel (8): While Hradecky made a flashy save, Nubel stole the show with a stunning double save against Adli and a crucial stop against Hofmann, stretching out low to push his shot over the bar. He also deflected a dangerous cross when the score was 1-2. He deserved the win for sure.
Leverkusen (3-4-3)
Hradecky (6.5): He made a good intervention on the first goal, although he couldn’t prevent it. However, his misplaced pass in the middle gifted the opponents a chance to score again. But what a moment when he made a strong save with his arm in the 88th minute, keeping his team in the game. The football gods were definitely on his side.
Tapsoba (6): He had a decent game overall, but his positioning error allowed Guirassy a big chance to make it 0-3. His decision to double up on the passer came too late and didn’t make much difference in the end. Otherwise, he was solid at the back.
Tah (7): Tah was rock-solid with his physical presence and focus throughout his time on the pitch. He was substituted at halftime (injury?), replaced by Hincapié (5.5), who, although decent, required some defensive reshuffling during Stuttgart’s strong start to the second half.
Kossounou (5.5): Similar to Tapsoba, he held his own for the most part, but his reaction was slow on the 0-1 goal, allowing Fuhrich to get ahead of him.
Grimaldo (5): Defensively, he had a tough night, being largely at fault for the first goal due to a misjudgment of the trajectory. He was also caught out on another dangerous occasion. However, his pass to Adli was crucial in getting his team back in the game. He was substituted by Stanisic for the final minutes.
Andrich (5): There’s a lot to say about his performance, as he was involved in at least three key moments of the match. Firstly, he didn’t put enough pressure on Guirassy, leading to a missed opportunity. Then, his fall in a duel with Undav resulted in Stuttgart’s second goal. Fortunately, he redeemed himself by scoring in the final minute to salvage a draw and maintain the unbeaten streak.
Palacios (6.5): His first half was excellent, excelling in recovery, duels, and dictating play (notably with a great through ball to Grimaldo). His second half wasn’t as impressive, but it was still a solid performance overall.
Frimpong (4.5): He was active as usual, but his passing and finishing let him down too often. He needs to improve in these areas for Champions League football next season. He was replaced by Tella towards the end.
Adli (5): Adli had little impact overall, except for his goal where he showed good positioning and quick execution.
Hofmann (5.5): He was better in the first half than the second. He provided a key pass for Frimpong, who failed to convert. He also dropped deeper to create numerical superiority, which was effective. However, he faded in the second half and was replaced by Wirtz, whose well-taken free-kick for the equalizer was anything but subtle.
Schick (2.5): Despite being a regular scorer lately, his performance couldn’t be saved by a goal today. He missed an incredible chance from close range, and shortly before that, he had a poorly executed long-range shot. He was replaced by Boniface, who showed glimpses of his ability to unsettle the defense in a short time.
Stuttgart (4-2-2-2)
Nubel (8): Refer to above.
Mittelstadt (6.5): The newly-capped German international had a solid outing, keeping his opponents at bay, notably Frimpong. Maybe not too flashy going forward, but he showed he’s up for a good old-fashioned duel.
Ito (5): A mixed bag from Ito, with some good interceptions but also some clumsiness in the first half that led to a unexpected Leverkusen chance.
Anton (5): Generally solid with successful interceptions and clearances, but he was caught reacting too late to Adli’s goal that narrowed the gap.
Stergiou (4.5): The young defender, born in 2002, is getting more game time, but his performance was neutral tonight with a majority of lost duels. Replaced by Rouault.
Millot (6): The Frenchman showed impeccable determination. His involvement in the second goal speaks volumes, winning a duel and setting up Undav for the finish. Replaced by Dahoud.
Karazor (5.5): Atakan, as he’s known, displayed great technical accuracy with a 90% pass completion rate. He actively contributed to the possession phases that troubled Leverkusen.
Fuhrich (6.5): Energetic, he caused problems on the left side with his dribbles. Early in the second half, he unleashed a magnificent shot that put his team ahead. A solid performance. Replaced by Silas.
Leweling (6.5): On the right flank, he excelled, especially after halftime. It was his charge that initially forced Hradecky into action, leading to Fuhrich’s goal. His activity both in midfield and on the wings was exceptional, and he could have been a decisive playmaker if Guirassy hadn’t missed a chance for 0-3. Replaced by Stenzel.
Guirassy (3.5): An interesting first half, as despite missing an early chance, he was very involved (54 touches) and made good decisions with the ball at his feet. He seemed poised to score, but it just didn’t happen. Even though he had opportunities, he either missed the target or was denied by the goalkeeper in the six-yard box late in the game. If he had been more clinical, his team might have won convincingly, maybe even thrashing the newly-crowned champions.
Undav (6): Perhaps the opposite of Guirassy, with only one chance but he converted it even though the goal didn’t seem easy. Not impactful in terms of involvement in the game (20 touches), but impactful on the result, you could say. Replaced by Jeong Woo-Yeong.
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