Leverkusen’s Bailey increases goal tally

National midfielder Leon Bailey is now on pace to have his best statistical season in the Bundesliga as he registered his fifth league goal of the season to help his German club Bayer Leverkusen defeat Stuttgart 5-2 in their Bundesliga fixture on Saturday at the BayArena.

The 23-year-old Bailey scored his first Bundesliga goal since December in the 56th minute as he helped Leverkusen to end their two-game losing streak and remain in the thick of the Champions League qualifying race.

Bailey's performance on Saturday increased his statistical tally to 11 goals and nine assists for the season in all competitions. He is now closing in on his career best of 12 goals in all competitions, a mark he registered in the 2017-2018 season, which also included six assists. It was also the first time he has scored in back-to-back games since November, when he scored in a Europa League win over Hapoel Beer Sheva and in the Bundesliga against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Leverkusen got off to a great start when Kerem Demirbay gave the home side the lead in the 18th minute. He then doubled their advantage 13 minutes later when he was played by Bailey and managed to finish from close range past Stuttgart goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Leverkusen went into the half-time break with a healthy 2-0 lead, but Stuttgart managed to pull one back five minutes into the second half, thanks to Sasha Kalajdzic. However, Bailey restored Leverkusen's two-goal lead in the 56th minute, thanks to some great interplay between himself and Moussa Diaby. Bailey managed to find Diaby on the right-hand side and his low cross found Bailey to finish past Kobel.

Florian Witz and new signing Damani Gray wrapped up the points with goals in the 68th and 84th minutes, respectively. Kalajdzic scored Stuttgart's second of the game in the 77th minutes.

Leverkusen remain in fifth place with 35 points but are a point adrift from fourth-place Frankfurt, who won yesterday. Leverkusen will remain at home for their next league fixture when they entertain 17th-place Mainz on Saturday.