Sebastian Hoeneß on a rivalry between VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen: “Something has definitely developed”

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Sebastian Hoeneß on a rivalry between VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen:

Sebastian Hoeneß on a rivalry between VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen: “Something has definitely developed”

VfB Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeneß has spoken about whether there is a potential rivalry growing between Bayer Leverkusen, who they face on Friday night.

On Stuttgart and Leverkusen becoming recent rivals, Hoeneß said:

“I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case. Something definitely developed. A healthy rivalry because the games were even. With emotions that are definitely still in the memory.”

Hoeneß then added:

“The games have always been great recently, with lots of emotion. You saw exactly what football is about: good football, lots of intensity and fast play. At the end of the day it’s about winning games like this for us. We will try to do.”

Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso also showed his respect to Stuttgart in his press conference and termed their game as “always very intense” and revealing”I am exhausted after every game against Stuttgart”.

The matches between Leverkusen and Stuttgart under Alonso and Hoeneß have always been entertaining. Die Werkself have only been able to beat Stuttgart once in normal time and it took a 90th-minute winner from Jonathan Tah in the DFB Pokal last season.

Every other match has ended in a draw (1-1, 2-2 and 2-2), but while the most recent meeting ended in a draw, Leverkusen won the DFL Super Cup on penalties earlier this season. The game at the BayArena in August was the most heated match with Martin Terrier sent off on his debut, as well as 11 yellow cards being handed out between the teams.

GGFN | Jack Meenan