Overwhelmed – Bayer Leverkusen nonetheless gained the DFB Cup in opposition to 1. FC Kaiserslautern and thus full the double. The hero of Berlin was referred to as Granit Xhaka.
Xhaka scored the aim of the day on Saturday (May 25, 2024) on the Olympic Stadium, which was offered out by 74,322 followers, within the sixteenth minute. Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou was proven a yellow card within the forty fourth minute. Immediately after the restart there was a three-minute interruption as a result of steady burning of pyrotechnics, first from Lauterer, however later additionally from the Leverkusen fan curve.
“The most necessary factor was the idea of the workforce. They had been able to battle once they had been outnumbered. That was good,” stated coach Xabi Alonso in an interview with Sportschau about Leverkusen’s second cup double after 1993.
“We are actually upset as a result of we could not equalize,” stated outgoing FCK coach Friedhelm Funkel on Sportschau’s microphone, “however I’m additionally proud as a result of the workforce gave every little thing.”
Five modifications to Xabi Alonso for Leverkusen
Compared to the misplaced Europa League last in opposition to Atalanta Bergamo (0:3), Alonso made some modifications in personnel and techniques. With Patrik Schick he relied on an actual heart ahead and in the midst of the defensive discipline within the clear Robert Andrich. Jonas Hofmann was allowed to play on the best, Kossounou moved into the again three, and Lukas Hradecky was in aim for the primary time this season in a cup recreation instead of Matej Kovar.
At FCK, Funkel made three modifications in comparison with the final aggressive recreation: Ben Zolinski and Jan Elvedi entered the defensive position. Jean Zimmer joined the wing. Surprise: striker Ragnar Ache (16 objectives within the second division), who has been injured quite a bit just lately, needed to keep on the bench.
A courageous begin from Kaiserslautern
But even with out Ache, the “Red Devils” began with nice braveness. Just two minutes later, Kossounou obtained a yellow card as a result of he was in a position to block Kenny Redondo, who had began enjoying badly. The Bayer protection managed to clear Tymoteusz Puchacz’s free kick solely with nice problem, and shortly afterwards Hradecky had to make use of all his expertise to cope with Daniel Hanslik’s long-range shot.
It was after 4 o’clock that Leverkusen slowly entered the present. Perhaps the Bergamo debacle had taken away the boldness Bayer had introduced into the Bundesliga. Led by Florian Wirtz, the Werkself then grew to become extra harmful. First Schick missed a move from Wirtz, and FCK goalkeeper Julian Krahl parried Wirtz’s shot from a good angle.
Dream of Xhaka’s aim for Leverkusen
The stress from the champion elevated, Lautern might not launch himself sufficient – then he let Xhaka rip: From 23 meters he threw the ball into the left nook, Krahl had no likelihood. As a consequence, Leverkusen took full management of the midfield. Alex Grimaldo narrowly missed making it 2-0 within the twenty sixth minute with a chip over Krahl as Boris Tomiak cleared the ball off the road.
It wasn’t till half an hour later that the Lauterers had been once more on the offensive with Redondo’s long-range shot earlier than the Leverkusen facet obtained themselves into bother.
A becoming launch for Bayer Kossounou
Kossounou re-entered the duel strongly within the thirty seventh minute. Funkel was already waving to the facet for the bot card. However, Bastian Dankert was proper to let it slip, however after 5 minutes the Ivory Coast defender had no alternative: Kossounou held his sticks on Tomiak’s ankle for too lengthy preventing for the ball – he would have been given a yellow. card for this unhealthy entry -Red can even give crimson.
“After that, a totally totally different Leverkusen was on the pitch,” stated successful goalscorer Xhaka to Sportschau: “Very good, an excellent concept and other than Kaiserslautern’s shot within the second half, nothing was allowed.” In any case, Leverkusen needed to proceed with ten males and virtually conceded an equalizer earlier than the break with Tobias Raschl’s low shot, which went simply inches vast of the aim.
Alonso and Funkel react totally different
At the beginning of the restart, each coaches reached conclusions concerning the personnel imbalance. Alonso changed Schick and Hofmann with Amin Adli and Josip Stanisic, and altered the defender to a again 4 – Funkel elevated the stress with Ache on Hanslik.
The modifications had an impression on each side. Leverkusen had a very good likelihood to make it 2-0 within the fifty fifth minute with Stanisic’s header from Grimaldo’s nook. Soon after, Ache narrowly missed the Bayer aim with a shot from 22 meters. In the 63rd minute, Hradecky managed to catch the subsequent Ache cracker with a very good save within the left nook.
Calm as an alternative of harmful at Leverkusen – Alonso slows down Wirtz
A outstanding show within the sixty fifth minute confirmed how a lot Leverkusen buckled below stress at this stage. When Wirtz needed to hurry the throw and reap the benefits of FCK’s outnumbered protection, Alonso ran as much as him, hugged him lovingly and sternly warned him to settle down and plan as an alternative of aggressively searching for a second aim.
The likelihood to take action got here like this: After Adli gained the ball, Wirtz despatched Frimpong uphill with 1 / 4 of an hour left, who was already circling Krahl, however fully missed the move to Xhaka, who was working with Krahl. he. As a consequence, there wasn’t a lot to come back from Kaiserslautern, actually no aim risk. Bayer once more managed the ball and the opponents with ten males, the protection of Jonathan Tah and Edmond Tapsoba, and Andrich, closed every little thing on the again.
In the top, Leverkusen grew to become the sixth workforce in German soccer to rejoice twice and the primary time of their historical past.