Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart Preview & Prediction | 2024 German Super Cup
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The Bundesliga captivated Europe last season with Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen enjoying an unbeaten domestic campaign and they kick off the search for 2024/25 silverware in the DFL-Supercup against last season’s Bundesliga runners’ up, Stuttgart.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 17th August, 2024 - UK – 7:30pm / US ET – 2:30pm / US PT – 11:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
BAYER LEVERKUSEN PREVIEW: THE UNBEATEN JUGGERNAUTS
Under the management of former Real Sociedad B coach Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen have been absolutely magnificent. Last season, for the first time in their history, they won the Bundesliga title and they did so without losing a single game as they also went onto the win the DFB-Pokal.
The only game that Leverkusen lost during the entire campaign was the UEFA Europa League final against Atalanta in Dublin in mid-May. What makes it such an exciting time for Leverkusen is that none of their key players have left the club this summer with some really interesting additions, too, such as Aleix Garcia and Martin Terrier.
STUTTGART PREVIEW: STEADY AND STABLE STUTTGART
In what was a superb campaign of their own, Stuttgart propelled themselves into the runners’ up spot in the Bundesliga, eventually finishing above the giants of Bayern Munich. Their biggest piece of business this summer must certainly be retaining the services of coach Sebastian Hoeness, amidst reported interest from the aforementioned Bayern.
Despite no change in the dugout, Stuttgart have lost some key players from their squad with defenders Waldemar Anton and Hiroki Ito leaving for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively with striker Serhou Guirassy also leaving the club for Dortmund. They have replenished their squad, though, with over £50 million worth of incomings.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN TEAM NEWS: A TOUCH OF ROTATION
The only thing that could levelled as a criticism at Xabi Alonso last season was too much rotation with quite a few scares in the UEFA Europa League then ending in a defeat in which he also changed too much in the final.
There will be at least one enforced absentee for this weekend’s DFL-Supercup with defender Odilon Kossounou suspended after receiving a red card in the DFB-Pokal final against Kaiserslautern in May.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Belocian, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo; Hofmann, Wirtz; Schick
UNAVAILABLE: Kossounou (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
STUTTGART TEAM NEWS: COUPLE OF INJURIES
Sebastian Hoeness will have to create a new winning formula for Stuttgart this season with the key departures that have hampered his pre-season preparations.
Ermedin Demirovic is expected to come straight into the side for his Stuttgart debut with Fabian Rieder also expected to make an appearance after joining on loan from Rennes.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Neubel; Leweling, Vagnoman, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Fuhrich, Undav, Millot; Demirovic
UNAVAILABLE: Zagadou (Injured), Pfeiffer (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
BAYER LEVERKUSEN VS STUTTGART PREDICTION
Last season’s Bundesliga featured some incredible surprises with both Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart defying all pre-season expectations to finish as first and second. From winning the relegation playoff in 2023 to UEFA Champions League qualification, Stuttgart were magnificent last season but their achievements are still small in comparison to the unbeaten juggernaut that was and is Bayer Leverkusen. There is no reason to suggest Leverkusen cannot once again produce magic this season and that should start by winning the first piece of silverware available to them this weekend.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN VS STUTTGART TIP: BAYER LEVERKUSEN TO WIN
