It is actually part of FC Bayern’s self-image that the club plays in the Berlin Olympic Stadium in May. Not against Hertha BSC, but the final of the DFB Cup. Actually. Because this self-image is long gone. The last time Bayern played in the final in the capital was in 2020, and since then they have suffered defeats in the cup. Like last Tuesday in the round of 16 against Bayer Leverkusen.
“A trophy is gone, that hurts,” said Bayern’s sports director Max Eberl. Nevertheless, he also found words of praise: “I thought the team’s reaction was outstanding. I had the feeling in the stands that we were the team that wanted to win the game.” But she didn’t. As so often in the cup in recent years.
Season 2020/21 – Out in round two
In the snow, Bayern, as defending champions, sensationally lost in the second round at Holstein Kiel. The then second division team equalized 2-2 in added time and then won the penalty shootout 6-5. The defending champion and record cup winner (20 titles) failed early on.
2021/22 – Smack in Gladbach
Under new coach Julian Nagelsmann, Bayern experienced a historic end in Mönchengladbach. The 5-0 defeat in the second round against an unbridled Borussia was Munich’s heaviest defeat in 276 cup games. “I have never experienced such a collective failure from a Bayern team in such an important game, so it’s a bit difficult to understand at first,” said Thomas Müller after the slap.
Season 2022/23 – home defeat against Freiburg
Shortly after coach Nagelsmann left, his successor Thomas Tuchel suffered his first painful defeat. In the quarter-finals, SC Freiburg triumphed in Munich with a goal from Lucas Höler in stoppage time. Bayern lose 2-1 and the final in Berlin will take place again without the record champions.
Season 2023/24 – embarrassment at third division club
It is the big cup sensation of the season. Third division club 1. FC Saarbrücken is down 1-0 against Bayern in the first round after a goal from Thomas Müller, but is turning the game around at home. The celebrated winning goal to make it 2-1 came in stoppage time.
“Saarbrücken must be congratulated for the fight. We just weren’t clever and missed a lot of chances before the counterattack to make it 2-1. They should be happy, but if Bayern loses in Saarbrücken, we have done something wrong,” said Müller.
2024/25 season – end in the round of 16
After the red card for Manuel Neuer, FC Bayern suffered the next knockout against double winners Leverkusen in the round of 16. Joker Nathan Tella caused the most serious defeat under coach Vincent Kompany.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso was “very proud” of his team: “Winning here against Bayern, who have played very well this season, is great,” enthused the Spaniard after the 1-0 (0-0). Under him, Bayer has not lost any of the last five games against the record champions from Munich. After reaching the quarter-finals, sports director Simon Rolfes felt “a different winning mentality” from the double winners – and gave an optimistic forecast: “We will win many more games like this.”
The DFB Cup should be won again in the new year. “And the Bundesliga season is still long,” said Rolfes aggressively after the win in Munich. Bayer, third in the table, is seven points behind the still unbeaten leaders from Munich. “I don’t copy anything in football,” said Rolfes about the fight for the championship title.
