An unspoken warning to FC Bayern

They did it again. Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart are engaged in the fourth grueling battle of giants within nine months in the Supercup. FC Bayern must have looked very closely. Stuttgart's goalscorer avoids declaring war.

Fabian Wohlgemuth's disbelief was written all over his face. The sports director of VfB Stuttgart stood in the mixed zone and looked at a TV that was broadcasting the highlights of Leverkusen's Supercup celebrations. Slight head shaking. Leverkusen again. The Werkself are something like the final opponents of VfB Stuttgart in the era of Wohlgemuth and coach Sebastian Hoeneß.

Twice in the league (1:1 and 2:2) and once in the DFB Cup (2:3) the Swabians came very close to knocking out the invincibles. Twice, a last-minute punch from Leverkusen pushed VfB back to reality. And that's how it was on this humid, rainy Saturday evening in Leverkusen, which ended with a dramatic 3-4 penalty shootout. Bayer 04 wins the next trophy, VfB misses out on their first since 2007.

“Two teams that really wanted to know”

“It's like always here in Leverkusen: emotionally at the limit,” said Wohlgemuth, referring to the wild game. The double winner and the runner-up simply continued where they left off last season and had a remarkable exchange of blows with their sights open. “As always, the game had a high level of entertainment value, with two teams that really wanted to know,” said the VfB sports director. “Unfortunately it ended badly for us again.”

After the early lead through Victor Boniface (11th minute), VfB kept their nerve, hit back just four minutes later with a shot from Enzo Millot from almost 16 meters and then repeatedly came dangerously in front of the German champions' goal. The Swabians failed three times because of the aluminum (Ermedin Demirovic, Millot and Pascal Stenzel). VfB only turned the game around in the second half. Seconds after being substituted, Joker Frans Krätzig fed the incoming co-Joker Deniz Undav (63') from the left side, who scored with his first touch of the ball.

At the latest after the red card against Leverkusen newcomer Martin Terrier (37th), the game took on a very special flavor. A lot of friction, disagreements, discussions – sometimes after every tough duel. The Supercup threatened to collapse. Referee Tobias Stieler didn't always have full control, he pulled out a yellow card a total of eleven times and a red card once, and had to keep talking to the captains. There were also many shouts and gestures from the benches. Alonso and the substituted Boniface were shown yellow, and the fans made their displeasure loudly known.

Leverkusen against Stuttgart is something like the most modern classic in the league. “After the three games here, it can always be assumed that there will be irritations at least here and there in the duel,” said Wohlgemuth about the “feud” between master and vice-president.

Alonso switches on the offensive weapons

In the final phase, Xabi Alonso brought the full Bayer force and firepower onto the pitch in Florian Wirtz, Patrik Schick, Alejandro Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong. An announcement to your own team, the fans and the opponent. Blessed is the one who can substitute like that. VfB lost control and Bayer 04 showed why they have been unbeaten at home since May 2023. Grimaldo and Wirtz now played cat and mouse with the VfB defense on the left side of the attack. Just as the butterflies buzzed in the lights of the BayArena, Bayer's attacks on the Swabian team continued relentlessly. All of this outnumbered. The final offensive was rewarded with the 2-2 by Florian Schick after Grimaldo's pass (88th). The comeback kids are back from vacation.

Because Frimpong missed from a free stand shortly before the end, it went to penalties (there is no extra time in the Supercup, but it would have been worth seeing in this game). The Leverkusen shooters all kept their nerve, while Bayern loanees Krätzig and Silas failed from the penalty spot and caused long faces for VfB.

Goalscorer Deniz Undav was also still pissed off after the game. “I don’t know whether we were suddenly intimidated by the fans and suddenly stopped playing football,” he said in the mixed zone, puzzling over the Swabians’ weak final phase. “I can't explain it myself. The 'shitty mistakes' simply shouldn't happen against Leverkusen. They will be punished,” Undav continued.

“What pisses me off the most is when you play with one more man and then concede a goal and then suddenly stop playing football,” complained the DFB striker. VfB still played football in eleven-on-eleven situations. After the red card, “only long balls,” he complained. “If you have three oxen at the back like them, you don’t need to play long balls,” he said, looking at the defensive bulwark around substitute Jonathan Tah.

Because of “Fairfair Cup” – after the final whistle it’s all happening

The action wasn't over even after the final whistle. Groups formed everywhere, dialogues everywhere. You didn't even know where to look first. Even Hoeneß and Wirtz were in the middle of it all, national player Maximilian Mittelstädt was escorted away by his teammates. It was simmering everywhere in small pockets of fire. So much for the “fair cup”. But there was a fairly full alarm in the arena.

“That's part of the game. Emotions are part of it,” said the clearly cooled-down Undav after the game when asked by ntv.de about the pack formation. “Leverkusen wanted to win, and so did we. As long as you don't cross a line, everything is cool,” said the striker. But then he added that there might have been “a bit too many emotions” for some people – including on the benches. “But it's fun to be there. I hope we win against Leverkusen next time.”

And despite the disappointment that Wohlgemuth and Undav expressed after the final, VfB still sent a message in failure (result-wise). Because despite the delicate departures of top striker Serhou Guirassy, ​​defense chief Waldemar Anton and defensive left-footer Hiroki Ito and despite some wobbles in defense, the club was particularly reminiscent of the VfB/Hoeneß-Ball from the 23/24 season, especially on offense . Back then, the club beat FC Bayern at the end of its record season and sensationally came second. And this time?

Sure, Leverkusen is the hunted. This game also showed that. “This is a clear message to the other teams,” said captain and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky. The victory is “a clear signal that we want to be there again.” The squad is probably even better than last year with midfield strategist Aleix Garcia, defender Jeanuël Belocian and left winger Terrier. Bayer still has the last-minute punch on its side.

Nevertheless, for many, FC Bayern is the big favorite in the new Bundesliga season. After a season without a title, the reeling record champions are attacking with anger, a few additions and a new coach. There are also RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund, who are also driven by a new euphoria. VfB is something of a dark horse. An X factor possibly. It is not yet clear where exactly the journey will take us. With performances like those in the Supercup, VfB can probably stay in the top five and maybe even annoy one or two of you. The showdown for the first title of the season should give both teams hope and FC Bayern can more or less stand up to them.

Undav: “Bayern is still Bavaria”

This time, Undav clearly held back from declaring war. The performance in the Supercup was “not a warning shot to anyone,” he emphasized when asked by ntv.de. “Bayern is still Bavaria.” The focus is on other things: VfB has to make sure that it can cope with the double burden of the Champions League, and has to see “how the body feels” with the many English weeks that now await in the autumn.

Undav's announcement: “We just want to play a quiet season and see what happens then. The first few weeks are crucial. We'll see what happens.” Sounds like Swabian understatement. That was not necessary for the description of the Supercup. “It’s very nice for German football to see such great games like today,” said Undav. “There was fire in there.”

The fifth round of the heavyweight clash between Stuttgart and Leverkusen (9th matchday) is expected to take place on November 2nd or 3rd. Football fans should mark their weekend big. It definitely won't be boring.