Bayer Leverkusen vs. VfB Stuttgart: Supercup probable teams, match stats & LIVE blog!

• Leverkusen vs. Stuttgart - excitement guaranteed
• 5 reasons Leverkusen will win the Supercup
• 5 reasons Stuttgart will win the Supercup
• Leverkusen's key players in the Supercup
• Stuttgart's key players in the Supercup

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>>> Click here for the Leverkusen vs. VfB Stuttgart live blog!

Leverkusen were virtually untouchable last season, dethroning Bayern Munich as Bundesliga champions and going all the way in the DFB Cup without loss. Their only competitive defeat fell in the UEFA Europa League final as Atalanta denied Alonso's charges what would have been an unprecedented invincible continental treble. Still, the first team ever to go undefeated in a Bundesliga campaign, Leverkusen are now unbeaten in some 40 league and cup games, dating back to a 3-0 loss to Bochum on the final day of 2023/24. It'll certainly take something special to end the domestic streak, not least after the club successfully rebuffed reported advances for star performers Jonathan Tah, Álex Grimaldo, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz during the summer window, while bringing in handy reinforcements such as defender Jeanuël Belocian and midfielder Aleix García. A full complement of Bayer players will greet Stuttgart as Leverkusen close in on a third trophy in as many months, with one week to go until they begin their Bundesliga title defence against local rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Stuttgart came as close as anyone to beating Leverkusen in 2023/24, drawing home and away in the league and losing a five-goal thriller in the DFB Cup quarter-finals. Ultimately pipping Bayern to the Bundesliga's runners-up berth, Sebastian Hoeneß's team were arguably the surprise package of the season, having only preserved their top-flight status via the relegation play-off 12 months earlier. Success has come at a cost, however, namely in the form of losing captain Waldemar Anton and 28-goal top scorer Serhou Guirassy to Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund, as well as key defender Hiroki Ito to Bayern. Die Schwaben have retained the services of Bayern-owned goalkeeper Alex Nübel, though, whilst snapping up Deniz Undav on a permanent deal from Brighton & Hove Albion. The Germany striker, who hit 18 goals in his debut Bundesliga season, could be partnered by summer signing Ermedin Demirović at the BayArena. The Bosnian makes the switch to VfB, fresh off a career-best campaign with Augsburg totalling some 15 goals and 10 assists. Bayern loanee Frans Krätzig is among the other new faces at the club who, unlike Leverkusen - 4-1 losers to Arsenal on 7 August - enjoyed an unbeaten pre-season circuit.

Watch: There is great excitement ahead of the 2024 Supercup