Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart classic promises bumper Bundesliga campaign
They were the last-gasp specialists of 2023/24 and Bayer Leverkusen will go into a new Bundesliga campaign with all of that fight-to-the-death mentality they displayed in the most successful season in the club's history.
Supercup champions following a come-from-behind win against Stuttgart, Xabi Alonso and his treble winners are in high spirits ahead of the defence of their Bundesliga title, which starts with a trip to Borussia Mönchengladbach this Friday.
VfB - last season's Bundesliga runners-up - tried to get the better of Bayer for a fourth time in eight months during Saturday's Supercup curtain raiser and although the Swabians eventually succumbed on penalties, Sebastian Hoeneß saw plenty to provide him and Stuttgart fans with confidence for the campaign to come.
Watch: Leverkusen win the 2024 Supercup
"I was happy with my team for much of the match, but I also saw things we need to work on,” the 42-year-old tactician noted after a hugely gripping contest finished 2-2 at the BayArena.
Leverkusen boss Alonso, meanwhile, said, "In the end it reflected what motivation there is here; comeback ability is very, very important," after seeing his side find an equaliser in the 88th minute, just when it appeared their opponents were going to pick up a second Supercup.
As in the three tussles between the teams last term, this final had everything: goals, intensity, sublime skills and even a red card for new Leverkusen arrival Martin Terrier on his debut. VfB took the lead in those previous three games but were unable to put a battling Bayer to the sword, just as was the case on Saturday when goals from the impressive Enzo Millot and Deniz Undav had the visitors ahead going into the game's closing stages.
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It was substitute Patrik Schick - Leverkusen's saviour so often last season - who slid home from 2023/24's assist king Álex Grimaldo's through pass to send the home fans delirious at the BayArena one more time. "I'm very happy that I scored another goal in the last few minutes," the Czech striker said of his 88th minute equaliser. "I came onto the pitch and just wanted to score a goal and turn the game around."
If there were no surprises about what transpired on the banks of the Rhine, it was because the Werkself netted 34 goals from the 81st minute onwards in all competitions last term, 25 of which came in 86th minute or after. "I'm happy that we haven't forgotten these late comebacks and didn't leave them lying on the beach somewhere," captain Lukáš Hrádecký joked. The goalkeeper made a crucial stop to deny Stuttgart's Bayern Munich loanee Frans Krätzig in the shootout, and was swamped when Silas blazed his penalty over to signal one more trophy for the Bayer 04 cabinet.
Watch: Leverkusen lift the Supercup
The result extended Leverkusen's unbeaten run against German teams to 41 games in Bundesliga, DFB Cup and now Supercup. In what is developing into a fascinating new rivalry, B04 against VfB will be one of the much anticipated games once the new season begins. The sides are scheduled to meet again on Matchday 9 in November, when Bayer will defend a record of 12 competitive games without loss (eight wins, four draws) against Die Schwaben.
A Stuttgart side who hit the woodwork three times on Saturday and had new signings Jeff Chabot, Ermedin Demirović and the returning Undav looking especially determined and hungry will be keen to reverse an unwanted trend against Leverkusen. A Matchday 1 challenge against Freiburg in the Bundesliga at the weekend will no doubt have everyone at the club fired up as they seek to make the perfect start.
For Stuttgart and and the rest of the 2024/25 Bundesliga challengers, seeing Leverkusen take to another victory podium will remind all concerned of the mighty task they face as they try to nudge the champions from their perch. “We picked up where we left off,” a beaming Hrádecký said following his side's latest success. "We wanted to start as well as possible: with a trophy. When the Bundesliga starts, we will give 100 per cent every week again," the Finnish international concluded.
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