Bundesliga
Leverkusen ease into second round
The Erik ten Hag era at Bayer Leverkusen began with victory as the Dutchman's side overcame nine-man fourth-division outfit Sonnenhof Großaspach 4-0 in the first round of the DFB Cup on Friday evening.
Sonnenhof Großaspach 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Schick 32' (assist: Adli), 0-2 Arthur (74'), 0-3 Kofane 84' (assist: Alex García), 0-4 Grimaldo (pen. 87')
Sent off: Celiktas (67'), Tasdelen (82')
Ten Hag named new signings Mark Flekken, Jarell Quansah and Ibrahim Maza in his first competitive starting line-up as Leverkusen head coach.
Flekken was tested by Großaspach's Mert Taşdelen inside 10 minutes, before heavy hail forced players off the field of play.
Leverkusen's Patrik Schick headed over shortly after play resumed, but made his second attempt count when he converted Amine Adli's cross with 32 minutes gone.
The Bayer striker made a goal-line clearance to prevent Großaspach Volkan Celiktas levelling matters with an inventive overhead effort, while Maximilian Reule pulled off a superb stop to thwart Quansah late in the half.
A goal down and with nothing to lose, the home pushed for an equaliser early in the second half and went close to getting one through Michael Kleinschrodt, who was denied by Flekken, before Loris Maier drilled just wide.
The game got away from Sonnenhof just after the half-hour mark, however, with Volkan Celiktas receiving two yellow cards in quick succession. That was soon followed by Arthur doubling Leverkusen's lead after good work by Ernest Poku.
Worse was to come for the hosts when Tasdelen was sent off for dangerous play, and an evening to forget was compunded by late goals from Christian Kofane and Alex Grimaldo to secure a 4-0 victory for the 2024 DFB Cup winners.
Match stats
- After going out in the first round in 2023, Leverkusen went on a 10-game winning run in the DFB Cup. That included lifting the trophy in 2024 before eventually losing to Arminia Bielefeld in last season's semi-finals.
- The 2024 success was the second time Leverkusen have won the DFB Cup. They won it for the first time by beating Hertha Belin II in the 1992/93 final.
- Only VfB Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade (five) scored more goals than Schick (four) in last season's competition. Schick now has a total of eight goals in 15 DFB Cup games.
- These two teams had never previously met in a competitive fixture, but did face off in a 2015 friendly, which Aspach won 1-0.
- Aspach were in the third division back then. It is the highest on the German football pyramid they have played.
- This was just Aspach's third time playing in the DFB Cup first round, having previously lost 4-1 to Stuttgart (2009/10) and 2-1 to FSV Frankfurt (2012/13) at this stage.
Teams
Aspach: Reule - Landwehr, Aidonis, Nuraj, Mohr - Celiktas (c), Mistl (Kunde 70') - Lo. Maier (Pollex 88'), Tasdelen - Kleinschrodt (Ender 88'), Eisele (Stoppel 70')
Unused subs: Michalik, Kretschmar, Le. Maier, Molinari, Huras
Out: Rahn (broken arm)
Coach: Pascal Reinhardt
Leverkusen: Flekken - Quansah, Tapsoba, Hincapié (Tape 64') - Arthur, Andrich (c), Aleix García, Adli (Grimaldo 46') - Maza (Mensah 85'), Tella (Poku 65') - Schick (Kofane 77')
Unused subs: Blaswich, Lomb, Alfa-Ruprecht, Sarco, Boniface
Out: Belocian (cruciate ligament), Hofmann (hamstring), Palacios (hamstring), Terrier (Achilles), Tillman (calf)
Coach: Erik ten Hag
As it happened!
0 - 4(0 - 1)
Großaspach
FINAL
Leverkusen
89'
Post!
Tape wants in on the action, but his strike comes back off the upright.
87'
Cool as you like!
Grimaldo strokes the ball into the bottom corner, with the Großaspach keeper diving the wrong way. Bayer are running away with it...
86'
Penalty!
No doubt in the referee's mind as Kofane's brought down in the box by Stoppel. Grimaldo to take...
84'
Emphatic!
Welcome to German football, Christian Kofane! The Cameroonian teen lashes a superb first-time finish past Reule, less than 10 minutes after joining the action. Hats off to Aleix García as well - his defence-splitting pass into the penalty area was weighted to perfection.
83'
Rash!
Mert Taşdelen is shown a straight red card after going through the back of Tapsoba. Completely unnecessary - the home side are down to nine men!
82'
vs
Mert Taşdelen
81'
We want three
Leverkusen attack again as Andrich drives forward. He tries to feed Kofane in the box, but a defender hoofs it clear.
77'
Fresh face, fresh legs
Christian Kofane, who only made his pro debut with Albacete in January, replaces Schick. The 19-year-old is one of the 12 new players on the Bayer books.
77'
vs
Christian Kofane
Patrik Schick
75'
Close!
The hosts haven't given up yet as Mohr drives just over. Not sure Flekken would have got there.
73'
Daylight!
Leverkusen make their man advantage count to surely end any Aspach hopes of a cupset. Grimaldo pulls away and feeds Poku, who coolly touches it into the path of Arthur for a well-taken finish past the goalkeeper. That's the Brazilian's first goal for the club!
70'
vs
Marius Kunde
Christian Mistl
70'
vs
Lukas Stoppel
Fabian Eisele
71'
Reule again!
Superb reactions from the stopper to thwart Schick sweeping in Poku's low cross.
68'
Disallowed goal!
Schick races onto a cute through-ball, before rifling high past Reule - but the flag went up very early. No complaints from the Bayer striker. He was clearly offside.
67'
Skipper sent off!
Celiktas is booked for a foul on Maza. That's his second yellow, and the hosts will have to see out the remainder with 10 men.
66'
vs
Volkan Celiktas
65'
Double change
After Aspach's captain is booked for dissent, Ten Hag makes two changes. New signings Poku and Tape are on, with Hincapié and Tella making way.
64'
vs
Ernest Poku
Nathan Tella
64'
vs
Axel Tape
Piero Hincapié
64'
vs
Volkan Celiktas
59'
Direct
The home team are looking to get the ball to their forwards quickly. They are having some success, too, and they are beginning threaten Flekken's goal more frequently as Maier shoots wide following a quick counter.
53'
Close
Großaspach break into the box and close in on goal before Flekken gets his leg to the ball. Subsequently, Hincapié almost puts into his own net, but it trickles just wide.
49'
Stunning stop
Some lovely build-up play releases Grimaldo, and only a fantastic save from Reule stops him from finding the top corner.
47'
In the book
Tapsoba's foul on Eisele sees the referee take his name.
47'
vs
Edmond Tapsoba
46'
Over
Tella should make it 2-0 to Leverkusen, but he doesn't quite connect and can only fire over.
46'
Back up and running
The second half has begun.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
45' +4
vs
Alejandro Grimaldo
Amine Adli
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +4
Tasdelen denied
The midfielder's shot is straight at Flekken, who holds the ball. That was the final action of the first half.
45' +2
Wide
Adli can't get his shot on target from Tella's cut-back.
181s
Watch: All of Schick's Bundesliga goals in 2024/25
The striker has opened his season account for this term, so sit back and enjoy all of his Bundesliga goals from the previous campaign.
43'
Booking
A tactical foul from the Frenchman earns him the first yellow card of the game.
43'
vs
Amine Adli
42'
Great save
A brilliant stop from Reule following some pinball in the box keeps his team just one goal behind.
40'
Off the line!
Celiktas' creative overhead shot appears to be creeping into the corner. However, Schick is on hand to intervene at the final moment. The Czechia forward has been influential at both ends already!
39'
Spell of pressure
As they look for a response, the hosts have enjoyed a sustained spell in Leverkusen's half, including several corners.
38'
Back on the pitch
Tella retakes his position on the field.
37'
Tella goes down
The winger slips and goes down awkwardly. He is receiving treatment as the game continues.
32'
Leverkusen lead!
Schick has not been involved too much in this one, but he doesn't need to be as he gives his side the lead with a bullet header. That was clinical from the striker.
27'
Chance!
The home team have several opportunities to get a dangerous shot off in the penalty area. In the area, Eisele strike is the best, but his attempt can only hit the side netting.
19'
Over
Schick has a chance to catch Großaspach cold, but he is always up against it and heads over after plenty of back-tracking.