Bayer vs Stuttgart: Nigeria's Victor Boniface subbed off in the first half after bittersweet return to Leverkusen XI

Nigerian striker Victor Boniface experienced a rollercoaster of emotions in Bayer Leverkusen's German Super Cup clash against Stuttgart. 

The match, which put the Invincibles Leverkusen's impressive 43-match unbeaten home run to the test, saw Boniface make a significant impact before an unexpected early exit.

Boniface, making his return to Xabi Alonso's starting lineup, wasted no time in making his presence felt. Just 11 minutes into the game, he capitalised on a knockdown from Edmond Tapsoba to tap in the opening goal, giving Leverkusen an early lead.

However, the joy was short-lived as Stuttgart's Enzo Millot equalised with a superb low drive merely four minutes later, bringing the scores level at 1-1.

The match took a dramatic turn when Leverkusen's Martin Terrier received a red card for a reckless challenge on his competitive debut, leaving the Bundesliga champions with ten men. This setback forced manager Xabi Alonso into a tactical reshuffle.

In a surprising move, Alonso chose to sacrifice Boniface, subbing off the Nigerian forward after just 41 minutes of play, with Jonathan Tah taking his place. 

This decision, likely made to shore up the team's defence following the red card, brought a premature end to Boniface's promising return to the starting lineup.

As the teams headed into halftime with the score still tied at 1-1, Leverkusen faced an uphill battle to maintain their unbeaten home record. 

The early substitution of Boniface, who was backed to rediscover his form after injury, despite his goal, highlighted the tactical challenges faced by Alonso in this high-stakes encounter.

For Boniface, while the early goal will be a positive takeaway, the shortened appearance may leave him keen to prove himself further in upcoming fixtures.

As the German Super Cup continues, all eyes will be on how Leverkusen adapts to these early setbacks and whether they can extend their impressive home record in the face of adversity.