Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart Prediction 31.10.2026 | Bundesliga

Leverkusen head into Gameweek 8 of the Bundesliga following a painful reality check in the form of a 3-0 away debacle at the hands of Hoffenheim, a result that ruthlessly snapped an impressive streak of ten consecutive matches in which they had scored at least two goals.

Although this failure put an abrupt end to their five-match unbeaten run and temporarily distanced them from the very top of the table, a team that has already racked up 16 goals this season has the perfect motivation to immediately prove that this was an isolated bad day rather than a deeper crisis.

Nevertheless, Martinez faces significant selection headaches ahead of this high-stakes derby, as reports from the dressing room hint that Eliesse Ben Seghir, Martin Terrier, and right-back Guela Doue could all sit out the encounter, demanding urgent alternative solutions in rotation.

The BayArena remains, however, an unbreached fortress and the primary asset for Saturday's hosts so far, given that they boast a flawless record of five wins from as many competitive home games, meaning they will look to vindicate their fourth-place standing with a commanding performance.

On the flip side, Stuttgart are enduring a nightmarish start to the season with a meager haul of just six points from seven matches (W2 L5), representing the weakest league opening in Sebastian Hoeness' era since he took the helm back in April 2023.

The greatest pain point for the Swabians lies in a chronic lack of consistency and a porous defensive unit that regularly cancels out their attacking output, as was clearly evident last Friday in a shocking 3-2 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach, a side that had possessed zero points prior to that game.

Furthermore, Hoeness' tactical puzzle ahead of this demanding weekend examination is further complicated by selection issues, considering that Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey, Justin Diehl, and Tiago Tomas are all sidelined due to various injuries.

Yet, Stuttgart draw a massive psychological boost from the fact that they won both Bundesliga encounters against Leverkusen in the calendar year 2026—including a resounding 4-1 thrashing right here at the BayArena back in January—giving them hope that maximum defensive discipline could yield precious points.