Boniface and Tella shine as Bayer Leverkusen clinch German Super Cup

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria internationals Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella played key roles as Bayer Leverkusen secured the German Super Cup in a thrilling penalty shootout against Stuttgart.

Leverkusen’s impressive 43-match unbeaten home run was tested to its limits in a gripping encounter that ended 2-2 after regulation time, forcing the game into penalties.

The match started brightly for Leverkusen, with Boniface giving them an early lead in the 11th minute. However, Stuttgart’s Enzo Millot equalized just four minutes later, leveling the score at 1-1.

Leverkusen’s challenges grew when Martin Terrier was sent off in the 37th minute for a foul tackle. In a surprising tactical move, manager Xabi Alonso substituted Boniface with Jonathan Tah just four minutes before halftime.

Despite being a man down, Leverkusen demonstrated remarkable resilience. Patrik Schick came off the bench to score the equalizer in the 88th minute, after Deniz Undav had put Stuttgart ahead earlier in the second half.

The game ultimately went to penalties, where Leverkusen emerged victorious with a 4-3 scoreline.

The win on Saturday night extended Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run to 44 matches across all German competitions. This victory adds the Super Cup to their Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles, marking a historic treble.

Tella, who played 73 minutes, and Boniface have now become the only Nigerian footballers to have won all the major domestic trophies available in Germany.