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Bayer Leverkusen Misses Chances in a 0-0 with Stuttgart in Bundesliga

Stuttgart's goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel shouts to Stuttgart's Anrie Chase who defends the ball against Leverkusen's Victor Boniface during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP)
Stuttgart's goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel shouts to Stuttgart's Anrie Chase who defends the ball against Leverkusen's Victor Boniface during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP)
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Bayer Leverkusen Misses Chances in a 0-0 with Stuttgart in Bundesliga

Stuttgart's goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel shouts to Stuttgart's Anrie Chase who defends the ball against Leverkusen's Victor Boniface during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP)
Stuttgart's goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel shouts to Stuttgart's Anrie Chase who defends the ball against Leverkusen's Victor Boniface during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP)

Bayer Leverkusen did everything except score against Stuttgart in a lively 0-0 draw in the Bundesliga on Friday ahead of Champions League games for both next week.

Leverkusen hit the woodwork twice, forced repeated saves from Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, and saw Jeremie Frimpong’s goal ruled out for offside in the buildup.

Leverkusen is third on the table but could end the weekend seven points off the lead if Bayern Munich or Leipzig win their games on Saturday.

Stuttgart had few clear chances against a Leverkusen defense which has made some costly blunders and conceded at least once in all of its previous Bundesliga games this season.

However, it was also the first game this season in which Leverkusen failed to score and fourth draw in its last six games in all competitions. The closest Leverkusen came to scoring was when Victor Boniface blasted a shot against the post in the 53rd from a good position.

Missed chances are a recurring theme in a season where Xabi Alonso’s team has failed often to produce the kind of late winning goals that fueled its title win last season.

Leverkusen heads to Liverpool on Tuesday in the Champions League and Stuttgart hosts Atalanta on Wednesday.

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No Concerns about Hamilton’s Speed, Says Ferrari’s Vasseur

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - December 1, 2024 Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - December 1, 2024 Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix. (Reuters)
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No Concerns about Hamilton’s Speed, Says Ferrari’s Vasseur

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - December 1, 2024 Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - December 1, 2024 Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Lewis Hamilton's struggles at Mercedes are not giving his future employers Ferrari any concern, according to team boss Fred Vasseur.

The seven-times Formula One world champion finished only 12th in Qatar on Sunday, the 39-year-old Briton's last race before his farewell to Mercedes in the Abu Dhabi season-ender next weekend.

He also finished 10th in Brazil last month, and 11th in the Saturday sprint there.

Asked after the race at Lusail if he was worried about Hamilton's form going into next year, Ferrari's Vasseur replied: "Not at all.

"I have a look at the 50 laps that he did in Vegas, starting in P10 (10th place), finishing on the gearbox of Russell, I'm not worried at all."

Hamilton finished second in a Mercedes one-two with winner George Russell, who started on pole position, in Las Vegas on Nov. 24.

Hamilton collected two penalties on Sunday -- a five second one for a false start and the other a drive-through for speeding in the pit lane -- as well as a puncture.

At one point, clearly fed up, he sought to retire the car but his race engineer refused the request because the drive-through penalty would have been carried over to Abu Dhabi if left unserved.

The Briton, who turns 40 in January, has been out-qualified 18-5 by Russell this season and 5-1 in the sprints but has also won two grands prix.

"I know I've still got it," Hamilton said on Saturday. "It's just the car won't go faster. But I definitely know I've got it. It is not a question in my mind."

On Sunday he was prepared for one last push.

"I'm still standing, it's not how you fall, it's how you get back up, so I'll get back up tomorrow and give it another shot next week," he said.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff rejected any suggestion Hamilton was losing his speed.

"I'm certain that it's not true. It's just this generation of cars, particularly how the car is now," said the Austrian. "He's a late braker, he carries a lot of speed on the entry to the corner and the car doesn't take it."