Bayer Leverkusen pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat VfB Stuttgart 4-3 on March 16, 2025, showcasing late-game magic reminiscent of their title-winning season. The thrilling match occurred at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, where Leverkusen overcame significant odds to close the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
The visitors came to the game under immense pressure, being winless in their last four Bundesliga outings. Stuttgart, meanwhile, was determined to capitalize on Leverkusen's misfortunes, flaunting their impeccable record against Leverkusen, unbeaten for the past 14 matches. This motivation set the stage for a high-stakes clash.
The match kicked off with Stuttgart taking the lead just 15 minutes in. Ermedin Demirović, fresh from his previous goalscoring venture, capitalized on a rebound after Lukas Hradecky saved Jamie Leweling's attempt, scoring his 10th goal of the season. This was particularly significant for Demirović as it also marked his 150th appearance in the Bundesliga.
Stuttgart continued their offensive pressure, and shortly after halftime, Nick Woltemade doubled their advantage, scoring just three minutes after the break. The match felt ominous for Leverkusen, who seemed to falter under defensive pressure, particularly from Stuttgart's resilient attack.
Yet, the reigning Bundesliga champions would not stay down without a fight. Jeremie Frimpong sparked hope when he halved the deficit with his goal in the 56th minute, firing his shot past Alexander Nübel, reigniting Leverkusen's bet for recovery. Nevertheless, moments later, disaster struck when Granit Xhaka inadvertently turned the ball past Hradecky for Stuttgart's third goal, bringing the score to 3-1.
Leverkusen seemed on the edge of defeat, but resilience characterized the match. Piero Hincapié quickly responded, scoring from a corner shortly thereafter to pull Leverkusen back to 3-2.
With time running low and victory slipping away, Leverkusen stormed back. They were gifted new life when Angelo Stiller deflected Victor Boniface's cross, turning the ball unexpectedly past Nübel, equalizing the score at 3-3 just before the final minutes of normal play. This own goal reflected Stiller's misfortune and highlighted the topsy-turvy nature of the match.
Just when it looked like the match would end with honors even, Patrik Schick etched his name on the scoresheet with a dramatic header deep in stoppage time, directed by Frimpong's cross, culminating Leverkusen's thrilling comeback. This marked Schick's decisive contribution to the game and affirmed his status as a clutch player for the team.
“Perhaps sometimes you need wins like this to show the spirit is still there,” said Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah after the match, emphasizing the team's determination and fight back.
Following this victory, Leverkusen’s coach, Xabi Alonso, expressed his belief in the team's abilities and the importance of this win moving forward, stating, “At the end this magic moment happened for us. It means a lot, to have this super feeling.” Alonso continued to advocate for sustaining this momentum as they chase Bayern Munich, narrowing the gap to six points after Bayern could only manage a draw against Union Berlin on the same weekend.
While the victory brought Leverkusen’s confidence back, the struggle continues for Stuttgart, who now sit with eight points to make up if they aim to replicate last season’s success and contending for Champions League qualification. After the match, Alonso also remarked on the uncertainty of the league and how many things could happen with eight games remaining, reinforcing the idea there was still plenty of time for surprises.
Overall, this match not only highlighted the remarkable spirit demonstrated by Leverkusen, who made meteoric moves against Stuttgart but also kept alive their chances of competing with Bayern for the Bundesliga title. The intermission returning from this match will be pivotal as both teams assess and recalibrate approaches for the season's remaining challenges.