Bundesliga
Leverkusen ease into DFB Cup last 16
Bayer Leverkusen booked their place in the DFB Cup last 16 thanks to a 3-0 second-round victory over Bundesliga 2 side Elversberg.
- Follow all the second round action HERE!
- Watch all of Leverkusen's Bundesliga goals this season
- Watch all of Elversberg's Bundesliga 2 goals this season
Leverkusen 3-0 Elversberg
Goals: 1-0 Schick 2' (assist: Tella), 2-0 Schick (9'), 3-0 García (36')
Having twice given away the lead against Werder Bremen at the weekend, Leverkusen were in no mood for more unwanted surprises here and began with menacing intent – even despite Alonso rotating his side in eight positions with one eye on Friday’s Bundesliga Matchday 9 opener against VfB Stuttgart. When Patrik Schick turned in Nathan Tella’s cross in the second minute, it set the tone for a dominant first 45 minutes. Schick grabbed another goal moments later, poking in from close range after Elversberg goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof spilled Jonas Hofmann’s cross. The game was effectively killed off in the 36th minute when Alex García curled in a brilliant 25-yard free-kick to give Die Werkself a 3-0 half-time lead.
The Bundesliga 2 side tried their best to turn the tide early in the second half and could have pulled a goal back when a corner caused havoc in the Leverkusen penalty area, but they couldn't manage to prod the ball over the line. Leverkusen, for their part, were happy to go into battery saving mode, sitting back, conserving energy and inviting Elversberg to find a way through. The visitors did their best to pull a goal back - they ended the game with 12 corners to Leverkusen's three - but ultimately lacked the necessary quality to do so. Alex Grimaldo almost rounded things with with a late fourth for the home side following good work from Victory Boniface, but his shot could only find the side netting. It mattered little in the end, as the holders eased into the last 16.
Match stats
- García's spectacular strike was his first goal for Leverkusen.
- Leverkusen have scored in each of their last 34 cup games – a club record and currently the longest streak in the competition.
- They have also kept clean sheets in their last four – the Werkself’s best run for nine years.
- Elversberg recorded the biggest win of the first round, beating Hildesheim 7-0. However, they have never gone beyond the second round, losing all six games at this stage.
- Elversberg won the only previous competitive meeting with Leverkusen, prevailing 4-3 in the first round of 2022/23 as a 3. Liga club.
- That was one of two occasions Elversberg have knocked out Bundesliga opposition in 11 such ties. Leverkusen have lost seven of their last 18 against Bundesliga 2 sides.
Teams
Leverkusen: Kovář - Tapsoba, Tah (c), Mukiele – Arthur (Onyeka 89'), Xhaka (Wirtz 69'), Palacios, Tella (Grimaldo 69') – Hofmann (Andrich 79'), García - Schick (Boniface 79')
Unused subs: Hrádecký, Hincapié, Frimpong, Alajbegovic
Out: Adli (ankle), Belocian (foot), Terrier (suspended)
Coach: Xabi Alonso
Elversberg: Kristof - Baum, Pinckert, Rohr, Neubauer - Petkov (Feil 46'), Sicker (Zimmerschied 69'), Sickinger, Damar (Schmahl 46') - Schnellbacher (Gerezgiher 46'), Asllani (Stock 59')
Unused subs: Boss, Dürholtz, Mahmoud, Pantschenko
Out: Dragon (knee), Jäkel (match fitness), Le Joncour (elbow), Şahin (calf)
Coach: Horst Steffen
As it happened!
3 - 0(3 - 0)
Leverkusen
FINAL
Elversberg
90' +2
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Seeing out the game
Leverkusen pop the ball around with ease as the final whistle approaches.
90'
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Added time
Three minutes have been added on.
87'
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Francis Onyeka
Arthur
84'
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Lukas Pinckert
83'
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Nearly four!
Boniface gets the ball by the left-hand side byline before crossing to the near post, where Grimaldo arrives before hitting Kristoff from close range with his effort.
81'
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Edmond Tapsoba
81'
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Huge chance!
Stock gets in behind the Leverkusen defence and looks to square to Gerezgiher to tap into an empty net, but he gets his pass wrong and Mukiele recovers to clear!
79'
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Victor Boniface
Patrik Schick
79'
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Robert Andrich
Jonas Hofmann
77'
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Still pushing
Elversberg continue to look for a goal, but are yet to create a clear cut chance despite their efforts.
71'
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Another corner
Gerezgiher's shot on the edge of the box is blocked, leading to another corner. Leverkusen clear, as Kovar again looks uncomfortable under pressure.
69'
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Tom Zimmerschied
Arne Sicker
69'
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Florian Wirtz
Granit Xhaka
69'
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Alejandro Grimaldo
Nathan Tella
68'
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Upping the corner count
Elversberg fire in another couple of corners, trying to put their crosses as close to Kovar as possible it appears, but they haven't had any luck so far
64'
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Not as dominant
Leverkusen have certainly had less of the ball than they would have liked this half, with the visitors working hard to create an unlikely turn around.
59'
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Paul Stock
Fisnik Asllani
58'
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More pressure
Elversberg win their third consecutive corner after Tapsoba heads behind. The delivery is dangerous once again, but Leverkusen manage to regain the ball.
56'
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Almost!
After good work by Asllani down the right, Elversberg have a corner. Kovar drops the ball, leading to a scramble as a white shirt tries to poke it in. Leverkusen clear.
54'
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Early improvement
Elversberg look more composed on the ball already, and have attacked the Leverkusen half with more conviction early on.
48'
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First sight of goal
After a knock down on the right-hand side of the area, Gerezgiher tries an ambitious overhead kick which sails over the bar. Bright start from Elversberg
47'
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Triple change
The visitors react to their first-half performance with a triple change.
46'
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Filimon Gerezgiher
Luca Schnellbacher
46'
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Frederik Schmahl
Muhammed Damar
46'
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Manuel Feil
Lukas Petkov
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
44'
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Great hit
Baum hits a volley from a fair distance, forcing Kovar into a great save. They win a corner, but Leverkusen clear.
43'
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Xhaka tries his luck
The Swiss midfielder lets one fly from distance, but despite its power, his shot is straight at Kristoff.
42'
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Eye of a needle
Tella tries to slip a ball through to Schick on the edge of the box, but he's crowded out by white shirts.
38'
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A free-kick of their own
The visitors win a free-kick in the final third and Damar steps up to take it, before testing Kovar with a brilliant effort.
32'
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Cruise control
Leverkusen continue to toy with the opposition, who can't seem to get near them.
25'
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Firmly in control
Since taking the lead, the home side seem to have taken their foot off the gas, but are still dominating possession.
20'
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Straight at the 'keeper
Tapsoba finds the run of Schick with a great pass, but he can only shoot straight at the 'keeper from a difficult angle.
15'
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Tough start for Elversberg
As if the task wasn't difficult enough, the visitors are now two goals down. They've had little joy trying to retain possession too.
5'
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Schick goes close again
The striker has made a lighting quick start to the game, with his header from inside the area testing Kristoff in goal and winning a corner, which Leverkusen can't profit from
1'
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We're underway!
The ball is rolling here at the BayArena.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
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Kovář between the sticks
Earlier this season, Alonso spoke about how he was undecided who would be his number one goalkeeper. While Hrádecký seems to have clinched that role for now, this is a chance for the Czech goalkeeper to show his worth.
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10 minutes until kick-off
Not long to go until this clash gets underway!
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Leverkusen starting XI
Kovář - Tapsoba, Tah (c), Mukiele – Arthur, Xhaka, Palacios, Tella – Hofmann, García - Schick
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Leverkusen subs
Hrádecký, Hincapié, Andrich, Wirtz, Grimaldo, Boniface, Frimpong, Onyeka, Alajbegovic
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What's next?
Today's winner will book their place in the last 16, which will be held on 3-4 December this year.
111s
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Watch: The best link-ups between Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface
Enjoy some of the fine interplay between Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface.
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Busy week for Leverkusen
After today's game, Leverkusen host VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga Matchday 9 opener on Friday before an away fixture in Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday. How might those tough fixtures in quick succession affect Xabi Alonso's team selection today?
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Elversberg subs
Boss, Feil, Dürholtz, Schmahl, Mahmoud, Stock, Gerezgiher, Zimmerschied, Pantschenko
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Elversberg starting XI
Kristoff - Baum, Pinckert, Rohr, Neubauer - Petkov, Sicker, Sickinger, Damar - Asllani, Schnellbacher