In the German Supercup opening game of the season on Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen beat Stuttgart 4-3 on penalties in a ten-man team to win the trophy for the first time.

Victor Boniface’s goal in the 11th minute was cancelled out four minutes later by the equaliser from Stuttgart’s Enzo Millot.

Shortly before half-time, Leverkusen had to reduce their squad to ten men after Martin Terrier was shown the red card for a dangerous tackle.

Deniz Undav gave Stuttgart the lead in the second half, but Patrik Schick equalised for Leverkusen two minutes before the end and the game had to go to penalties.

Frans Kraetzig and Silas Mvumpa, on loan from FC Bayern Munich, missed their penalties, while Leverkusen converted all of its penalties.

“What we achieved in the last ten, 15 minutes, equalising when we were outnumbered – that was incredible,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso after the match and praised his team’s “great fighting spirit”.

“I am happy with our start to the season – we have found that spirit again.”

The season opening match, in which the Bundesliga champions meet the cup winners or runners-up, was the first since 1993 in which neither Bayern Munich nor Borussia Dortmund took part.

Stuttgart’s impressive performance last season, in which the club finished second ahead of Bayern after narrowly avoiding relegation, was preceded by a summer of upheaval in which several star players left the club.

“Before the game, we didn’t really know where we stood this season,” Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß told reporters after the game.

“For us it was a clear sign that we are heading in the right direction again.”

As undefeated winners of last season’s Bundesliga and DFB Cup double, Leverkusen was able to avoid major departures and started stronger on Saturday.

Boniface headed home a header from Edmond Tapsoba after 11 minutes.

Just four minutes later, the visitors equalised when French Olympic silver medallist Millot played a pass from Chris Führich through a crowded penalty area into the bottom right corner.

The teams traded chances before Terrier, who had joined in the off-season, dug his studs into Ermedin Demirovic’s ankle and was promptly sent off.

Coach Xabi Alonso brought on Boniface almost immediately for German defender Jonathan Tah, but Stuttgart dominated before half-time, with Millot and Pascal Stenzel both missing a second goal by inches.

Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß brought Undav and Kraetzig off the bench and the duo put the visitors ahead a minute later when the former Brighton striker slotted home a counterattack.

Leverkusen is known for deciding games with late goals last season and was able to make another breakthrough in the closing stages: Alex Grimaldo found Schick, who shot the ball into the goal two minutes before the end.

The match went straight to penalties without extra time and Leverkusen – who have not lost a domestic match since May 2023 – remained flawless.

dwi/dj