VfB Stuttgart delivered a commanding performance at the BayArena as they swept aside Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 to move level on points with their hosts in the Bundesliga top-four race, while also claiming their first head-to-head victory in the fixture since 2018.

Coming into the contest having won just one of their previous five league outings, Stuttgart’s UEFA Champions League aspirations appeared to be faltering. However, Sebastian Hoeneß’ side wasted no time in dispelling those concerns with a blistering start.

Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken was forced into action inside the opening two minutes, producing a sharp reaction save after Chris Führich’s deep cross was met by Josha Vagnoman at the back post. That early warning went unheeded, and Stuttgart soon took a deserved lead.

Just seven minutes in, Jamie Leweling finished calmly from Deniz Undav’s perfectly weighted through ball to net only his second Bundesliga goal of the season. The winger thought he had doubled his tally moments later, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside, but Stuttgart’s dominance was relentless.

Their pressure told again when Jeanuel Belocian tripped Vagnoman in the penalty area, allowing Maximilian Mittelstädt to step up and confidently send Flekken the wrong way from the spot. Rather than settling for a two-goal cushion, Stuttgart turned the screw before the interval, delivering a devastating late flurry to effectively decide the contest.

Leweling struck again on the brink of half-time, cutting in from the right and drilling a low shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. Three minutes later, Deniz Undav added a fourth, latching onto Führich’s through ball and holding off Robert Andrich before finishing emphatically to stun the BayArena.

Leverkusen offered little in response before the break, with Alexander Nübel largely untroubled aside from a deflected Ezequiel Fernández effort. The hosts showed marginally more intent after the restart, as Martin Terrier fired wide from a promising position early in the second half.

A brief moment of hope arrived when Jeff Chabot fouled Malik Tillman inside the area, and Alejandro Grimaldo converted the resulting penalty straight down the middle. However, with many home supporters already heading for the exits, the damage had long been done.

Stuttgart comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to secure an emphatic victory, marking an ideal return from the winter break and drawing them level on points with fourth-placed Leverkusen in the Bundesliga standings.