- Supernal Conflict in the Super Cup: Bayern Secures Successive Victory
First win in the championship title, first Supercup victory - the series champs from Leverkusen secure the new season with a thrilling finish, overshadowed by late drama. The unbeaten champions of the last season claimed their first-ever Supercup title with a 4-3 (2-2, 1-1) penalty shootout victory against VfB Stuttgart, despite playing a man down for a significant portion of the game. No extra time was required.
Over 30,000 spectators filled the BayArena to capacity, watching Boniface (11') score the opening goal for the hosts. Stuttgart retaliated with goals from Millot (15') and Undav (63'), but Schick (88') forced the penalties with an equalizer.
Despite Terrier (37') getting sent off with a red card, Leverkusen, under the guidance of coach Alonso, managed to maintain their undefeated streak in competitive matches against league rivals for the past 15 months. In the shootout, Hradecky denied Krätzig for Leverkusen, while Katompa Mvumpa missed the target for Stuttgart.
The valiant Swabians fell short of their second Supercup triumph since 1992 and first title in 17 years, despite having the upper hand throughout the game.
Promising beginning for the hosts
The Supercup, often dismissed as the "Kirmes Cup" by many fans from both teams, and absent FC Bayern for the first time since 2011, delivered an engaging spectacle from the get-go. Both Leverkusen and Stuttgart showcased their commitment to the competition.
As in the previous season, when both meetings (1-1, 2-2) and the cup quarter-final (3-2 for Leverkusen) were tightly contested, this match continued the tradition. Adli passed up an opportunity to put Bayer ahead in the opening minute, sending the ball over the net from 16 meters.
Despite Alonso deploying substitutes like Wirtz, Tah, and Grimaldo at the start, Leverkusen started off strongly. After a cross from Garcia and a header from Tapsoba into the far corner, Boniface capitalized on the opportunity, lashing the ball into the goal from close range in the style of a striker. The disappointing performances in three consecutive preseason friendlies against RC Lens (1-1), Arsenal (1-4), and Real Betis Sevilla (1-1) suddenly took a backseat.
Stuttgart regains momentum
The Stuttgart response to conceding the early goal was commendable. The concerns about losing key players like Guirassy, Anton (both Dortmund), and Ito (Munich) during the summer break were quickly alleviated. They leveled the score four minutes after the initial setback. Mittelstädt set up Millot, who fired the ball into the left bottom corner.
The positive start boosted Stuttgart's confidence. Leverkusen managed to stay ahead by a narrow margin, with Demirović hitting the right post from a tight angle in the 25th minute.
From there on, the Stuttgart newcomer continued to shine, causing trouble for Bayer's defense with his skillful play. Unfortunately, Terrier proved to be his undoing when he was unjustly tackled by Millot. The referee, Stieler, appropriately issued a red card for the foul, granting Stuttgart an advantage in numbers. This could have resulted in a 1-2 lead for Stuttgart before the break, but Leverkusen enjoyed a bit of luck. Millot struck the bar (42'), and Stenzel's shot hit the post (45+2').**
Game-changer Undav and the equalizer from Schick
However, Stuttgart made the most of their numerical advantage upon resumption. After a swift transition, Undav, who had just entered the fray, converted a cross from Kratzig from five meters out to take the lead 2-1. The ensuing phases were chaotic and frenetic.
With the introductions of Schick, Grimaldo, and Wirtz, Alonso breathed new life into Leverkusen's strategy, and it paid off. Grimaldo provided Schick with a clever pass, resulting in a well-deserved equalizer and a rallying cry from the crowd.
The Supercup victory marked Bayer Leverkusen's first title in the German Bundesliga, adding to their recent success in the championship title. Despite playing a man down for a significant portion of the game due to Terrier's red card, Leverkusen secured their victory in the German Bundesliga Supercup with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory against VfB Stuttgart in the BayArena.
