NOV 02, V7N- Bayer Leverkusen faced a frustrating evening on Friday as they were held to a goalless draw by VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, despite dominating the match and creating numerous scoring opportunities. The champions were left disappointed after hitting the woodwork twice and missing several clear chances.
From the outset, Leverkusen put Stuttgart on the defensive, with a one-sided first half that saw them squander more than half a dozen golden opportunities. A notable moment came when Edmond Tapsoba's header struck the crossbar, denying the hosts an early lead. Stuttgart’s goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel was instrumental in keeping the scoreline level, producing stunning saves to thwart efforts from Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo.
The second half continued in a similar vein, with Leverkusen maintaining their pressure. Victor Boniface nearly broke the deadlock when he rattled the post shortly after the restart. Nuebel was called into action again, first stopping a one-on-one chance from Boniface in the 73rd minute, then denying a close-range attempt from Florian Wirtz, ensuring Stuttgart emerged with a hard-fought point.
Despite the draw, Leverkusen remains in third place in the Bundesliga standings with 16 points, trailing Bayern Munich, who sit atop the table with 20 points, and RB Leipzig, who are in second on goal difference. Leverkusen will now turn their attention to their upcoming Champions League clash against Liverpool on Tuesday, hoping to find their scoring touch. Meanwhile, Stuttgart's draw sees them move up to seventh place with 13 points, maintaining their position as last season's runners-up.
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