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10-man Bayer Leverkusen won the DFL-Supercup coming out on top 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw with VfB Stuttgart in regulation time.
Off the back of a record breaking season, Xabi Alonso’s side got the game going off on the front foot at the BayArena, firing into the lead through Victor Boniface (11′).
The Nigerian tapped in after Edmond Tapsoba’s back-post header, however, Stuttgart responded less than five minutes later, pulling level from an Enzo Millot goal.
Stuttgart increased their intensity and gained the upper hand when Martin Terrier was shown a straight red for a dangerous tackle on Ermedin Demirović
In his tactic response, Alonso brought off his goalscorer, Boniface (41′), reinforcing the defence – Jonathan Tah came in – as the German Champions looked to manage the game.
Despite the slow start from both sides after the restart, Stuttgart were clearly in control and made their numerical advantage count as Undav to bundle in a cross to turn the game around completely.
But as the game wore on, and quite late too, substitute Patrik Schick sent the home crowd wild as he snuck one in, burying it inside the near post.
That eventual goal sent the game straight to penalties, where both sides netted their two openers, but a save from Lukas Hradecky off Krätzig and a miss from Silas ensured heartbreak for Stuttgart.
Meanwhile, Nathan Tella featured from the start and was on until the 73rd minute.
The BayArena was in a joyous mood again as they were last season, after they clinched their first League title.