Leverkusen extend lead at top with draw against Stuttgart

Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen stumbled to a 1-1 draw at third-placed VfB Stuttgart on Sunday for their second draw in a row but still increased their lead at the top to four points.

Xabi Alonso's team, the last unbeaten in the Bundesliga this season, move up to 36 points, with second-placed Bayern Munich, who suffered a 5-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, on 32 with a game in hand. Stuttgart remained third on 31.

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It was Leverkusen's 22nd consecutive game across all competitions without defeat this season.

In a high-tempo first half, Leverkusen hit the woodwork with Amine Adli in the ninth minute with Stuttgart also missing a golden opportunity with Serhou Guirassy in the 26th after coming close twice more in the opening minutes.

The hosts, who had a league record-equalling 11 shots on target in the first half, broke the deadlock five minutes before the break with Chris Führich tapping in from close range.

Leverkusen came out fighting after the break and did not have to wait long for an equaliser.

They levelled just two minutes after the restart with Granit Xhaka sending Victor Boniface down the left and his cutback was volleyed in by Germany international Florian Wirtz.

Xhaka then almost turned goalscorer himself but his low drive bounced off the post in the 49th minute.

Both teams had their share of chances with Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and his Stuttgart counterpart Alexander Nübel kept busy throughout and making several outstanding saves.