After back to back matches on the road, any team who has just returned to the top flight would be delighted to be playing in front of their fans again.
However, this applies to a few teams as it does to VFB Stuttgart.
Apart from Bayern Munich, the Swabians are the only other team not to have lost a game at home this season.
As a matter of fact, they have collected 16 of their 17 league points at home this season which is the league’s highest percentage.
Striker Chadrac Akolo has been of immense value for Stuttgart this season.
He made a substitute appearance in their last game following his recovery from an injury and should start here.
He has scored three goals in his last four home games and could be the game changer here again.
After finishing a disappointing 12th in the league last season, Bayer Leverkusen are back among the elite teams in Germany.
They drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund in their last game – a result which leaves them with no losses in their last nine league games (five draws and four wins).
Kevin Volland has been their star man this season. He netted in the draw with Borussia Dortmund, a strike which takes him two goals clear of the next highest scoring German in the division.
He has now scored in his last four games and if he keeps this form, Stuttgart’s defence will have their work cut out.
The last meeting between these two sides ended in a 2-0 victory for Leverkusen.
Results of each team’s last 5 matches across all leagues and competitions
VfB Stuttgart
LAST FIVE GAMES
DATE
COMPETITION
L
Werder Bremen
1-0
VfB Stuttgart
2 Dec, 2017
German Bundesliga
D
Hannover 96
1-1
VfB Stuttgart
24 Nov, 2017
German Bundesliga
W
VfB Stuttgart
2-1
Borussia Dortmund
17 Nov, 2017
German Bundesliga
L
Hamburg SV
3-1
VfB Stuttgart
4 Nov, 2017
German Bundesliga
W
VfB Stuttgart
3-0
SC Freiburg
29 Oct, 2017
German Bundesliga
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
LAST FIVE GAMES
DATE
COMPETITION
D
Bayer Leverkusen
1-1
Borussia Dortmund
2 Dec, 2017
German Bundesliga
W
Eintracht Frankfurt
0-1
Bayer Leverkusen
25 Nov, 2017
German Bundesliga
D
Bayer Leverkusen
2-2
RB Leipzig
18 Nov, 2017
German Bundesliga
D
FC Augsburg
1-1
Bayer Leverkusen
4 Nov, 2017
German Bundesliga
W
Bayer Leverkusen
2-1
FC Cologne
28 Oct, 2017
German Bundesliga
H2H
LAST FIVE GAMES
DATE
COMPETITION
VfB Stuttgart
0-2
Bayer Leverkusen
20 Mar, 2016
German Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen
4-3
VfB Stuttgart
24 Oct, 2015
German Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen
4-0
VfB Stuttgart
13 Mar, 2015
German Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart
3-3
Bayer Leverkusen
18 Oct, 2014
German Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen
2-1
VfB Stuttgart
1 Feb, 2014
German Bundesliga
Other fixtures taking place this week in the German Bundesliga: