Bayer Leverkusen, the league and cup champions, won the German Super Cup for the first time in their history, beating their guest, Stuttgart, the league runner-up, on penalties 4-3 after a 2-2 draw in regular time.
Stuttgart, the 1992 title winners, failed to take advantage of the numerical deficit in the ranks of their hosts after their French striker Martin Terrier was sent off with a red card in the 37th minute, and their net received a fatal goal from substitute Czech striker Patrik Schick (88), after they had equalised through Frenchman Enzo Meo (15) in response to the opening goal from Leverkusen’s Nigerian striker Victor Boniface (11), before taking the lead thanks to substitute Dennis Undav (63).
In the penalty shootout, Leverkusen’s Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky excelled in stopping Franz Kreitzig’s shot, while Congolese Silas shot over the goal, while none of Leverkusen’s players missed their penalty kicks.
The 25th edition of the Super Cup was considered historic because it was the first time since 1993 that neither Bayern Munich nor Borussia Dortmund were involved in this opening match of the new season.
The Super Cup brings together the league champion and the cup winner, but Leverkusen’s domestic double allowed Stuttgart, second in the Bundesliga, to play the match.
Leverkusen dominated German football last season, winning the league title for the first time in its history without suffering a defeat, a historic precedent in the Bundesliga that the Bavarian giant failed to achieve, collecting 90 points under the supervision of its Spanish coach Xabi Alonso.
He suffered a single loss in 53 matches in various competitions last year, which was in the Europa League final against Italian club Atalanta 0-3.
Leverkusen entered the match at their home stadium, the BayArena, armed with an unbeaten record against Stuttgart in their last 12 matches in all competitions, before raising their tally to 13 with the Super Cup.
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