Pre-match facts: Bayer Leverkusen vs. VfB

Record against Leverkusen

Overall: 88 games. 23 wins, 22 draws, 43 defeats. 109:156 goal difference.

In the DFB Cup: 3 games. 0 wins, 3 defeats. 1:6 goal difference.

Looking back

The last two Bundesliga fixtures between these teams ended 1-1, most recently in December 2023 when Chris Führich put VfB ahead in an impressive first half. The last DFB Cup meeting was not too long ago either: Leverkusen earned a 2-1 win in the round of 16 in February 2020.

Road to the quarter-finals

Leverkusen have only faced lower-league opposition in this season’s competition, beating fourth-tier Teutonia Ottensen 8-0, third-division outfit SV Sandhausen 5-2, and Bundesliga 2 side SC Paderborn 3-1. VfB, meanwhile, have already knocked out two Bundesliga clubs, defeating Union Berlin 1-0 in the second round and Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the last 16, following a 4-0 triumph over fourth-division side TSG Balingen in the first round.

The coaches’ views

VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß: “We’ve obviously discussed the prospect of a penalty shoot-out and extra time, but everything else will stay the same. It’s a huge game with special significance. If you manage to win a game like this, your chances of reaching the final are probably greater than ever – but we can’t let ourselves get carried away. We have to be fully focused tomorrow. We’re really excited – now we have to see what happens tomorrow evening.”

Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso: “I like the way Stuttgart play. They play in an intelligent way and have a good structure. They absolutely deserve to be where they are in the table.”

Personnel

VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß will be without injured trio Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey and Lilian Egloff in Leverkusen on Tuesday evening, but Anthony Rouault is available despite breaking his nose against Freiburg at the weekend. Wooyeong Jeong (South Korea) and Silas (DR Congo) have reached the semi-finals of the Asian Cup and Africa Cup of Nations respectively, while Serhou Guirassy and Hiroki Ito have returned to Stuttgart from international duty. Hoeneß said Japanese defender Ito made “a good impression” in training on Monday afternoon and is “an option for Tuesday”, but there is still a question mark over Guirassy. “We’ll examine him and won’t take any risks,” confirmed the VfB boss.

Alonso is without Exequiel Palacios, Arthur and Victor Boniface (all injured), while Odilon Kossounou has reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with hosts Ivory Coast. Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso) and Amine Adli (Morocco) both recently returned from the competition and could be included in the squad. 

Spectators

The away section is sold out, with 3,000 VfB supporters set to cheer their side on in Leverkusen.