Bundesliga
Domestic double winners in 2023/24, Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen are now the Supercup champions after the ten-men Werkself battled back to equalise late on before breaking Stuttgart hearts in a penalty shootout.
Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 VfB Stuttgart (Bayer win 4-3 on pens.)
Goals: 1-0 Boniface 11' (assist: Tapsoba), 1-1 Millot 15' (assist: Mittelstädt), 1-2 Undav 63' (assist: Krätzig), 2-2 Schick 88' (assist: Grimaldo)
Red card: Terrier 37'
Looking to pick up where they left off in an unforgettable double-winning campaign, Leverkusen hit the front early on in front of their passionate fans. New signing Aleix García looked right at home at the BayArena and it was his cross to the back post that saw Edmond Tapsoba head back across goal. The ball might have dropped in, but Boniface made sure with a tap in. Runners-up in the last edition of the Bundesliga, Stuttgart quickly sought parity and after Ermedin Demirović flashed a header over, the visitors drew level. Olympic Games silver medallist Millot latched onto Maximilian Mittelstädt's neat cut-back and swept a fine shot away from the reach of Lukáš Hradecký. As the rain fell, the intensity of a contest between two teams who produced three memorable battles last season increased. Demirović found the upright after outmuscling Piero Hincapié before the Stuttgart forward felt the force of a hefty Martin Terrier challenge that saw the new Bayer 04 signing ordered off. Millot and Pascal Stenzel then both hit the woodwork in an unrelenting half.
Wary of his side's numerical disadvantage, Werkself coach Xabi Alonso introduced Jonathan Tah for Boniface. Yet it was a Stuttgart switch that made the telling impact. So long a favourite with the Swabians during a top campaign on loan at the MHP Arena last season, Deniz Undav recently made his move permanent and he converted Frans Krätzig's assist to send the Stuttgart fans wild here while ultimately earning himself the Man of the Match award. Their tails up, the away side looked to turn the screw. Jeff Chabot drew a stop from Lukáš Hrádecký with a powerful effort while Undav was denied a second thanks to a jaw-dropping Hincapié tackle. In between times, Alexander Nübel clawed out when Chabot almost bundled into his own net. Unbeaten on the domestic front last season, Leverkusen frantically sought an equaliser and when a combination of Patrik Schick, Jeanuël Belocian and Jeremie Frimpong couldn't convert, the Supercup seemed destined for Stuttgart. Step forth Schick, so many times B04's late saviour last season, the Czech sliding home Álex Grimaldo's through pass with just two minutes remaining. The contest going straight to an intriguing penalty shootout, Hrádecký saving from Krätzig made it advantage Leverkusen, and it was Bayer's title when Silas skied from the spot.
Watch: Bayer Leverkusen lift the Supercup
Match stats
Teams
Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Andrich (Schick 73'), Hincapie - Tella (Frimpong 73'), Aleix Garcia, Xhaka, Belocian - Adli (Wirtz 73'), Boniface (Tah 41'), Terrier
Unused subs: Kovář, Arthur, Grimaldo, Kossounou, Hofmann
Coach: Xabi Alonso
Stuttgart: Nübel - Stenzel (Keitel 83'), Rouault, Chabot, Mittelstädt (Krätzig 62') - Karazor (c), Stiller (Undav 63'), Leweling (Silas 63'), Führich (Diehl 77'), Millot - Demirović
Unused subs: Bredlow, Hendriks, Rieder, Woltemade
Out: Nartey (knee), Pfeiffer (match fitness), Stergiou (back), Vagnoman (metatarsal), Zagadou (match fitness)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß