Holders Leverkusen host upset-seeking Elversberg

Jonas Hofmann scored the winner for Bayer Leverkusen in the first round of the DFB Cup and should start in the second at home to Elversberg.

Bayer Leverkusen continue the defence of their DFB Cup title as high-flying Bundesliga 2 side Elversberg visit the BayArena in the second round on Tuesday (kick-off: 6pm CET).

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Leverkusen will feel a sense of frustration after being pegged back by Werder Bremen in a 2-2 Bundesliga draw on Saturday, but their focus now will be on continuing the defence of their cup title after lifting it for the second time in Berlin last May. Die Werkself have suffered only one defeat in 13 games in all competitions this season, but what will concern coach Xabi Alonso is that his team have been surredering leads througout the campaign. The defence of the cup began with a 1-0 win at Carl Zeiss Jena, Jonas Hofmann breaking the Regionalliga side's resistance in the second half. Alonso has masterfully managed rotation in his now 103 games at the BayArena helm, so expect to see a number of changes again to the team, including in goal, where Matěj Kovář tends to get the nod over Lukáš Hrádecký in the cup.

Horst Steffen had the luxury of picking the same starting XI for his team's big Bundesliga 2 encounter at home to division giants Hamburg at the weekend. The move paid dividends, with the Saarland side winning 4-2 to take them up to seventh in the second-tier standings and extend their unbeaten run to four games, of which they've won three. The team's top scorers, Fisnik Asllani (on loan from Hoffenheim) and Luca Schnellbacher - both on target at the weekend - have netted a combined 11 goals between them in Bundesliga 2 this season, with the latter also finding the net in Elversberg's 7-0 triumph against Hildesheim in the first round of the DFB Cup. The 3. Liga champions in 2022/23, Elversberg are now training their sights on a(nother) cupset against the holders.

Watch: Leverkusen held late in Bremen

Match stats

Alonso is only the fourth coach this millennium to progress in each of his first seven DFB Cup ties, after Edin Terzić, Pep Guardiola and Louis van Gaal.
Leverkusen have scored in each of their last 33 cup games – a club record and currently the longest streak in the competition. They have also kept clean sheets in their last three – the Werkself’s best run for nine years.
However, only three of the last six teams to lift the cup have gone on to progress beyond the second round.
Elversberg recorded the biggest win of the first round, beating Hildesheim 7-0. However, they have never gone beyond the second round, losing all five 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 17 against Bundesliga 2 sides.

Probable teams

Leverkusen: Kovář - Mukiele, Tah (c), Hincapié - Tella, García, Palacios, Arthur - Hofmann, Wirtz Schick
Out: Adli (ankle), Belocian (foot), Terrier (suspended)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Xabi Alonso

Elversberg: Kristof - Baum, Pinckert, Rohr, Neubauer - Petkov, Fellhauer (c), Sickinger, Damar - Schnellbacher, Asllani
Out: Dragon (knee), Jäkel (match fitness), Le Joncour (elbow), Şahin (calf)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Horst Steffen

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Leverkusen

Elversberg

DFB Pokal Second round BayArena

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Watch: Werder Bremen 2-2 Leverkusen highlights

Xabi Alonso's men had to settle for a point away to Bremen, thanks to a late Romano Schmid equaliser.

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Watch: Elversberg 4-2 Hamburg highlights

Elversberg were in scintillating form against Hamburg as they stormed to a 4-2 win.

Elversberg on form

The visitors are unbeaten in their last four, winning three and drawing one. Horst Steffen's side sit in seventh, although they are just three points behind second place Hannover.

Horst Steffen: "We want to show what we can do"

After an impressive win 4-2 win over Hamburg in the league, Elversberg coach Steffen was in a positive mood before his side's visit to Leverkusen, saying: ""We are going to Leverkusen and want to put our best performance on the field so that we can take this small chance when it opens up...It is a challenge for all of us. We have not been to Leverkusen yet, but we are simply taking this premiere to show what we can do."

Opportunity for Elversberg?

With three draws in their last four games, it's fair to say that Leverkusen have not been themselves of late. Holstein Kiel came from two goals down to draw on Matchday 6 and they conceded a late equaliser in their most recent game to Bremen. With Xabi Alonso's men appearing to not be at their best, can the Bundesliga 2 side perform an upset?

The story so far

Leverkusen began their DFB Cup defence with a narrow win over plucky Carl Zeiss Jena of Germany's fourth tier, Jonas Hofmann scoring the only goal in the second half. Elversberg, meanwhile, put seven without reply past fifth division side Hildesheim.

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of DFB Cup holders Bayer Leverkusen's second-round tie at home to Bundesliga 2 side Elversberg on Tuesday.