DFB Pokal holders Bayer Leverkusen beat 10-man Bayern Munich 1-0 to knock the hosts out at the round of 16 stage.
The game was tense from the very beginning, Edmond Tapsoba and Dayot Upamecano both received early yellow cards after a challenge by the Leverkusen defender on Michael Olise. The game then provided its first talking point when a long ball allowed Jeremie Frimpong to beat Bayern’s high line, and despite Upamecano and Konrad Laimer being near the wing-back, Manuel Neuer rushed out and completely misjudged his attempt at sweeping the ball up and collided straight into Frimpong, getting himself sent off in the process.
After the red card, Leverkusen proceeded to have the better chances but Bayern were able to withstand their efforts. The highlight of those chances was Florian Wirtz’s mazy run through the host’s defence but his outside-of-the-foot shot went nowhere near the goal.
The second half lost its intensity but substitutes helped to change the game. Nathan Tella came off the bench to replace the injured Patrik Schick. The winger, would meet the end of a cross from Alejandro Grimaldo and head the ball in, ala Schick or more recently Jamal Musiala, to give Leverkusen a deserved lead. After the goal, Leverkusen were in control maybe not of the ball but they managed to withhold any Bayern attacks.
The win sends Leverkusen through to the quarter-finals while Bayern are eliminated once again meaning they have not been in the final of the DFB Pokal since 2020 when they beat Leverkusen.
The lack of a true number nine was recognisable for Bayern as they never really troubled Matej Kovar in the Leverkusen net. A solution will have to be found quickly as they wait for Harry Kane to regain fitness. On top of this, Bayern’s system under Vincent Kompany struggled after they were reduced to 10 men so early on.
For Leverkusen this will give them a much need confidence boost and shows the recent turn around in their form. A statement win for Die Werkself and now know that they can get the better of Bayern after the meeting between the teams back in September. Simialr to Bayern, Leverkusen lacked a recognised striker, however they created a lot of chances and their breakthrough finally game.
Leverkusen seemed to have found a new lease of life in the new style that head coach Xabi Alonso has recently adopted.
Bayern Munich:
Manuel Neuer (-)Konrad Laimer (5)Min-Jae Kim (6)Dayot Upamecano (5)Alphonso Davies (5)Joshua Kimmich (5)Leon Goretzka (5)Leroy Sané (-)Michael Olise (5)Kingsley Coman (5)Jamal Musiala (6)
Others: Daniel Peretz (5), Sacha Boey (5), Aleksander Pavlovic (5), Serge Gnabry (5), Mathys Tel (-)
Bayer Leverkusen:
Matej Kovar (6)Nordi Mukiele (5), Edmond Tapsoba (6),Jonathan Tah (5)PIero Hincapié (5)Jeremie Frimpong (6)Granit Xhaka (6), Robert Andrich (5)Exequiel Palacios (6), Alejandro Grimaldo (7), Florian Wirtz (6)
Others: Patrik Schick (-), Nathan Tella (7), Arthur (5),
GGFN Man of the Match: Nathan Tella (7)
Alejandro Grimaldo was also key for Leverkusen this evening creating three chances and providing the assist for the winner but Tella gets the Man of the Match award. The 25 year old was thrusted into the striker position and caused several issues for Bayern’s back line due to his pace and stepped up when it mattered with an unlikely header. With Martin Terrier being the only senior striker, Tella may need to step up in the position a couple more times before the turn of the year.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
