Leverkusen can still come back: Silas miss hands Bayer 04 their next title

Leverkusen team celebration after winning the Super Cup.
Image by Imago/RHR

For the first time since 2011, the Super Cup was played without Bayern Munich. Double winners Bayer 04 Leverkusen started the new season with three new signings: Belosyan (Stade Rennais), Alex Garcia (Girona) and Martin Terrier (Stade Rennais). In addition, Andric organized a three-man defensive chain instead of Tah, while Wirtz initially sat on the outside.

Great start for Bayer 04 – VfB raises the bar

But two old acquaintances ensured a quick lead over runners-up Stuttgart. Tapsoba headed to the far post, and Boniface finally pushed the ball over the line (11th minute) – a cross from Alex Garcia.

VfB, who had two new signings in their starting line-up in Demirovic (Augsburg) and Chabot (Cologne), were not shocked at all and could have equalised immediately with their new striker. Demirovic headed the ball just over (13). Shortly afterwards it was 1-1: Milot finished off a clean move brilliantly into the far corner (15).

Stuttgart in bad luck for aluminium – Terrier must go down

The Swabians played more maturely in the first half, pressing early and being more clear in their actions overall. However, Sebastian Hoeness's team were also unlucky with a total of three Aluminium strikes. First, Demirovic failed when he fell on the right post (min. 25), then when Milot followed up Fuhrich's pass that Hradecky had turned forward, the ball bounced off the crossbar and onto the goal line (min. 42). Stenzel's shot also hit the right post (45+2).

Things didn't go smoothly for Werkself in the first half, with the final assist often missing, especially in attack. To make matters worse, Terrier came too late in the midfield against Demirovic, hit the striker on the ankle with an open-sole and had to leave the pitch with a red card on his first competitive match (37).

Even after the break, VfB dominated the game. Time and again we pushed forward on the left side, but Werkself stood securely in defence and allowed few in the box. Bayer 04's attack remained incomplete, but Adli still had a good chance but shot wide (56).

VfB turns the game on its head, then things get hectic

The triple substitution provided a decisive breakthrough for VfB. Kratzig and Undav came on to the pitch with Silas and immediately struck. The Bayern loanee executed the record purchase at the far post, after a tackle by Hincapie, the game turned (63). Shortly afterwards, Hradecky had to defuse a Chabot shot (67).

Deniz Ondav is happy after his goal that made it 2-1.
Imago/Jan Hübner

In a frantic final phase with plenty of kicks and many yellow cards, Leverkusen turned things around again – even if one of Stuttgart's players created the biggest chance: Chabot flicked a corner kick onto his own post, and Nübel finally cleared the effort (72).

As Stuttgart left the decision after Tapsoba's carelessness – Hincapie just managed to deal with Undav (75) – the Werkself team remained in the game, but initially missed an equaliser within seconds thanks to substitutes Schick and Frimpong (79).

Schick scores again late on – Silas over goal

In the 88th minute, Cech appeared free in front of Noble again, but this time he remained ice cold and scored a late equaliser. Frimpong could have made it 3-2, but he did not get the ball in full (90+1).

Since there was no extra time in the Super Cup, it went straight to penalties. The Stuttgarters lost their nerve there. Hradecky saved Kratzig, and Silas shot over the penalty area. Since Schick, Grimaldo, Alex Garcia and Tapsoba scored for Leverkusen, Silas' miss meant Bayer 04's first Super Cup title. Stuttgart, on the other hand, have to wait for their second success after 1992.

Leverkusen will open the new Bundesliga season at Gladbach next Friday (8.30pm). VfB will be the guests in Freiburg one day later (3.30pm).