Leverkusen to share spotlight with Stuttgart in historic Supercup

BERLIN: Record-breaking Bayer Leverkusen will host Stuttgart in an historic DFL-Supercup on Saturday, in what will be the first season opener since 1993 to feature neither Bayern Munich nor Borussia Dortmund.

The 31-year record illustrates just how stunning last season was in German football. Germany´s equivalent of the English FA´s Community Shield, puts the Bundesliga champions up against the German Cup winners or the second-placed league side.

Leverkusen, for decades the butt of ´Neverkusen´ jokes as German football´s perennial runners-up, won their very first Bundesliga title in spectacular fashion. Xabi Alonso´s side became the first team in German history to win the league unbeaten, a record which has eluded even 33-time champions Bayern.

Leverkusen also won the German Cup and made it to the Europa League final -- their 3-0 loss to Atalanta in the final was their only defeat in the 53 games they played last season. Granit Xhaka, a key component of the midfield engine that helped drive Leverkusen to success last season, told AFP in an interview the champions were far from satisfied after their record-breaking season. “We´re at home against a very good team, for sure, but with our fans, our supporters, I believe we can win the trophy for our season, to take the first step,” said the 31-year-old.

“The trophy gives you a lot of confidence for the first game in the Bundesliga. The hunger is here and we want this trophy.” The experienced Xhaka was the guiding influence on an array of young stars, including winger Nathan Tella, who also arrived last summer. Tella, who scored six goals and laid on five assists in all competitions last season, told AFP at Leverkusen´s pre-season camp that the team wanted to improve in 2024-25.