Bayer Leverkusen made it two in a row to start the season with a 1-0 victory over Stuttgart on Saturday. The loss is Stuttgart’s second in as many games and keeps it with zero points on the season.
Stuttgart vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Final score 0-1, Schwaab own goal dooms Stuttgart
It may have taken an own goal for Bayer Leverkusen to beat Stuttgart, but three points is three points.
Stefan Kießling has scored in his last eight games against Stuttgart and he seemed determine to make it nine early in the match. He forced Sven Ulreich into two early saves before Sidney Sam joined in on the shooting. Stuttgart started to get into the match as the first half continued. Gotoku Sakai and Martin Harnik combined to feed Ibrahima Traore, but his shot wasn't good and didn't test Bernd Leno.
Both sides exchanged chances midway through the first half. Sam and Kießling brought out a couple of good saves from Ulreich. Sam then struck the post, while Vedad Ibisevic’s shot was ineffective on the other end.
Leverkusen took the 1-0 lead just before halftime. Heung Min Son fed Sebastian Boenisch down the left side. He crossed the ball into the penalty area toward Kießling. Before the forward could reach it, however, Daniel Schwaab accidentally turned the ball into his own net for the own goal.
Bruno Labbadia brought on Cacau and Moritz Leitner for Arthur Boka and Konstantin Rausch at the half, in an attempt to generate more in attack. Sami Hyypiä went with a little more defense bringing on Simon Rolfes for Lars Bender.
Stuttgart did well in creating chances throughout the final period, but it was unable to take advantage of any of them. Its continual pressing up the field opened more space in the defense for Leverkusen, but neither Kießling nor Sam could convert any of their chances to give themselves a little cushion in the scoreline.
With only a few minutes remaining in the match, Leverkusen received huge saves from its goalkeeper and the goal itself. Christian Gentner smashed a long range effort off of the crossbar and Leno denied Timo Werner with a fantastic save to secure all three points for Die Werkself.
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