Ten-man Bayer Leverkusen beat Stuttgart 4-3 on penalties in the season-opening German Super Cup on Saturday (Aug 17), winning the trophy for the first time.
Bayer Leverkusen won the German Super Cup on penalties against Stuttgart after needing a late equaliser to avoid defeat. Xabi Alonso's side went 51 games unbeaten at the start of last season, only losing the Europa League final to Atalanta as they won the German double. But they were two minutes away from a surprise defeat in their first game of the 2024-25 season at their home ground by last season's Bundesliga runners-up.
Victor Boniface tapped the league champions' opener into an empty net from Edmond Tapsoba's header. But Enzo Millot levelled in the 15th minute with a first-time drive from 16 yards out. Leverkusen then had debutant Martin Terrier sent off for a dangerous foul on Ermedin Demirovic.
Deniz Undav, a permanent summer signing from Brighton after a loan spell at Stuttgart last season, put the visitors ahead with his first touch after coming off the bench. However, Patrik Schick scored from Alex Grimaldo's through ball with two minutes remaining to make it 2-2 and send the match to penalties.
Stuttgart's Frans Kratzig and Silas were the only two to miss their spot-kicks as Leverkusen won the shootout 4-3.
Both of these sides were in only their second German Super Cup, with Stuttgart winning in 1992 and Leverkusen losing the following year.
This is Leverkusen's fifth major trophy in their history after last season's German league and cup, the 1993 German Cup and 1988 UEFA Cup.
Also notable was this being the first German Super Cup since 2011 not to involve Bayern Munich, who finished third in last season's Bundesliga.
