VfB Stuttgart 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen lifted themselves back into the race for a place in the Champions League next season thanks to a 2-0 win at Stuttgart.Julian Brandt and Karim Bellarabi scored for Roger Schmidt's men, who have now won eight and drawn four of their last 12 games against the Swabians.The win lifted the Werkself back into the top six, just two points behind fourth-placed Schalke, and erased the disappointment of their Europa League elimination on Thursday.Motivation appeared to make the main difference, with Leverkusen still keen on qualifying for the Champions League next season while Stuttgart appear unlikely to be involved in either the battle for Europe or to avoid relegation.The visitors therefore seemed to want the win more and they took the lead in the 11th minute when Bellarabi sent a deep ball to Brandt, and his low shot beat Przemyslaw Tyton.Brandt tested the Stuttgart goalkeeper again in the 29th minute, before Stefan Kiessling was also denied from close range.Stuttgart's only real chance of the first half came late on when Timo Werner's shot was turned behind by Bernd Leno.Leverkusen doubled their lead less than five minutes into the second half when Brandt turned provider for Bellarabi to shoot low past Tyton.Brandt hit the post as Leverkusen looked to turn the screw, while Javier Hernandez tried to get in on the act too as Tyton came under a wave of pressure, but withstood it well.He denied Brandt once again, but enough damage had already been done for Leverkusen to take away all three points from the Mercedes-Benz Arena.ends