Stuttgart vs Bayer Leverkusen preview

Stuttgart coach Armin Veh has admitted to envying his Bayer Leverkusen counterpart Roger Schmidt for being able to play the kind of attacking football he would love to implement.

Since the Swabians have only recently picked up their first win of the season to lift their confidence levels, Veh admits it is too soon to attempt the positive football he ultimately wants to see his side playing, as he prepares for Saturday's clash with Leverkusen.

Leverkusen are fourth, on the other hand, with just one point fewer than second-placed Hoffenheim, which is why they can afford to go gung-ho at times.

"Bayer's game is based on taking big risks and that is something that I like," said Veh.

"Right now, this would not be the best tactic for us to employ, though."

Instead, Veh is focusing on resolving his side's defensive problems and eradicating the mistakes they had shown in their first two home games of the season, which both ended in defeat.

"I'm convinced this is going to be a totally different kind of home game from us compared to our previous ones," Veh added.

Schmidt expects the very same and cannot imagine his side strolling to victory in the way Cologne and Hoffenheim already did at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena.

"I expect it to be a physical battle," Schmidt said. "Stuttgart don't have many points yet so they are bound to give it everything on Saturday to keep the points in Stuttgart.

"But we're in good shape so I'm pretty optimistic."

The international break could take its toll on Leverkusen, although Schmidt afforded Son Heung-min and Karim Bellarabi a day of rest on their returns.

"It was to allow them to recover from everything that they've had to cope with in the last few days and weeks, and to get a break for their minds too," Schmidt said.