Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart prediction: GERMANY: Super Cup betting tips on match 2024-08-16 18:30.
[p]Bayer Leverkusen’s 2023/24 season will be talked about for decades to come, as they were so close to doing the unthinkable and going a whole season unbeaten across all competitions, eventually losing just one of their 53 games played last season (W43, D9). Their reward was a first Bundesliga crown in the club’s history and a second-ever DFB Pokal title, both of which individually would’ve seen them qualify for what is their second crack at DFL-Supercup honours. [/p]
[p]The Supercup will head to the BayArena which will host this one-off fixture for the second time as well, offering Leverkusen a prime opportunity to become the ninth different team to lift the trophy. Doing so will further showcase their new-found status as a dominant force in German football, especially since they’ve managed to keep hold of manager Xabi Alonso and his highly touted star players this summer. [/p]
[p]Usually the Supercup is contested between the league and cup winners, but Leverkusen’s dominance last season means that Bundesliga runners-up Stuttgart were invited to contest the season’s first piece of silverware. Stuttgart’s achievements last season were excellent in their own right, winning the last three games of the league campaign to pip the powerhouse that is Bayern Munich to second-place. [/p]
[p]A dominant pre-season that saw Sebastian Hoeneß’s side win five of their six matches (D1) then followed, proving a second Supercup title is not beyond the realms of possibility this time around. Their labelling as sizable underdogs may be inclusive of their summer transfer activity, as they were unable to maintain the services of last season’s top-scorer Serhou Guirassy, who departed alongside starting defenders Hiroki Ito and Waldemar Anton. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: These two teams faced off three times last season, and Leverkusen’s Amine Adli found the net in both games played at the BayArena. Stuttgart’s Chris Führich went one better and netted in all three ties, and scored the match opener on two of those occasions. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Both teams have scored in nine of the last ten H2Hs.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Peter Stavrinou[/i][/p]