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

The two clubs have had some memorable matches in recent years, and Hoeneß believes that a genuine rivalry is now brewing

When VfB Stuttgart and Bayer Leverkusen meet on Saturday, there will be more than just three points at stake. In recent years, the two clubs have developed a fierce rivalry, and Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß believes that the atmosphere is now electric.

"There is definitely something between the two clubs now," Hoeneß said. "It's not just about the points, it's about the prestige. Both clubs want to be the best in the state of Baden-Württemberg, and that creates a lot of tension."

The rivalry between Stuttgart and Leverkusen came to a head in the 2020/21 season, when the two clubs met in the DFB-Pokal final. Stuttgart won the match 2-1, and Hoeneß believes that the victory was a major turning point in the relationship between the two clubs.

"That win gave us a lot of confidence," Hoeneß said. "It showed that we could compete with Leverkusen, and it gave us the belief that we could beat them. I think that the rivalry has only grown stronger since then."

Leverkusen coach Gerardo Seoane agrees that the rivalry between the two clubs is now one of the most intense in the Bundesliga.

"Stuttgart are a great team, and they have a lot of quality," Seoane said. "They are always difficult to play against, and I think that the rivalry between the two clubs has added an extra edge to the matches."

The match between Stuttgart and Leverkusen on Saturday is sure to be a close one, and Hoeneß is confident that his team can get the win.

"We know that Leverkusen are a good team, but we are confident that we can beat them," Hoeneß said. "We have a good record against them, and we are playing at home. We know that it will be a difficult match, but we are ready for the challenge."