Bundesliga
Leverkusen reach DFB Cup semi-finals
Bayer Leverkusen preserved their unbeaten record in all competitions this season as they came from behind to record a narrow 3-2 win against an in-form VfB Stuttgart side in the DFB Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Leverkusen 3-2 Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Anton 11' (assist: Stiller), 1-1 Andrich (50'), 1-2 Führich 58' (assist: Millot), 2-2 Adli 66' (assist: Wirtz), 3-2 Tah 90' (assist: Wirtz)
This match was billed as a not-to-be-missed encounter between arguably the Bundesliga's two best attacking teams right now - and it did not disappoint. Buoyed by convincing back-to-back Bundesliga victories over RB Leipzig and Freiburg, Stuttgart went on the front foot and took an early lead when Waldemar Anton connected with an Angelo Stiller corner to send a looping header into the net. They were the better team for much of the half, with Leverkusen's first effort on goal coming around the half-hour mark. Alejandro Grimaldo had a free-kick well saved by Alexander Nübel and Patrik Schick had a goal disallowed for offside as the home side improved before the interval, but Stuttgart held onto their lead going into the break.
Xabi Alonso must have given his players a stern half-time team talk because they equalised early in the second half when Robert Andrich hit a stunning drive from outside the box. The momentum appeared to be on the hosts' side, but Stuttgart struck again out of the blue when Chris Führich guided a lovely shot into the top corner from the edge of the area. The topsy-turvy nature of the match continued shortly afterwards as Leverkusen substitute Amine Adli levelled once again just seconds after taking to the pitch, collecting a Florian Wirtz pass and sprinting forward to score. Wirtz was involved once again as Leverkusen struck late on to seal their berth in the semi-finals, the Germany international guiding a pass onto the head of Jonathan Tah to send the BayArena into wild celebrations.
Match stats
- Adli is the top-scoring Bundesliga player left in this season's DFB Cup, with four goals.
- Alonso won the 2015/16 DFB Cup as a Bayern player, between two semi-final losses to Dortmund.
- The 1992/93 DFB Cup is Leverkusen's only major domestic trophy to date. They are three-time runners-up (2001/02, 2008/09 & 2019/20).
- Three-time cup winners Stuttgart were bidding to reach their first final since losing the 2012/13 edition to Bayern. They've now lost all four of their cup meetings with Leverkusen(2019/20, 2002/03, 1991/92 and 2023/24).
Teams
Leverkusen: Kovář - Hincapie, Tah, Tapsoba - Frimpong (Stanišić 90'+3), Xhaka (c), Andrich, Grimaldo - Hofmann (Adli 63'), Wirtz (Hložek 90'+3) - Schick (Iglesias 63')
Unused subs: Hrádecký, Mbamba, Tella, Fosu-Mensah, Puerta
Out: Arthur (thigh), Boniface (groin), Kossounou (international duty), Palacios (thigh)
Coach: Xabi Alonso
Stuttgart: Nübel - Roualt, Anton (c), Ito, Mittelstädt (Stergiou 70') - Karazor, Stiller - Vagnoman, Millot (Leweling 62'), Führich (Dahoud 79') - Undav
Unused subs: Bredlow, Stenzel, Milosevic, Massimo, Chase, Cissé
Out: Jeong (international duty) Nartey (knee), Silas (international duty), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
As it happened!
3 - 2(0 - 1)
Leverkusen
FINAL
Stuttgart
0 - 0
End of second half
90' +3
vs
Standing ovation for Wirtz
The young playmaker has put in another brilliant performance tonight and has two assists to his name.
90' +3
vs
Josip Stanišić
Jeremie Frimpong
90' +3
vs
Adam Hložek
Florian Wirtz
90'
vs
Four minutes of stoppage time indicated
Leverkusen look to have a spot in the last four!
90'
vs
Tah puts Leverkusen in front!
Leverkusen are in the lead for the first time tonight in the 90th minute! Moments after winning a corner with a chip downfield that Hiroki Ito headed over his own bar, Jonathan Tah is upfield and receives a floated pass from Florian Wirtz that he dispatches straight in with a header.
88'
vs
The chances have dried up
We haven't seen any opportunities in recent minutes, and we may be heading for an additional 30.
83'
vs
Will we see a knockout blow?
Neither side appears to want to commit too much with extra time looming on the horizon.
80'
vs
Mahmoud Dahoud
Chris Führich
78'
vs
Undav draws save
That could have seen Stuttgart take the lead again. Deniz Undav fires a drive from the edge of the box that Matěj Kovář saves at his near post.
74'
vs
Iglesias fires over
New signing Borja Iglesias meets a Jeremie Frimpong cutback on the edge of the box but steers his shot over.
72'
vs
A lively cup night in Leverkusen
We've seen four goals so far, and this second half, in particular, has been very open. Either side could go on to win it from here!
70'
vs
Leonidas Stergiou
Maximilian Mittelstädt
66'
vs
Adli equalises!
Two minutes after coming off the bench, Amine Adli brings Leverkusen back on level terms after being picked out by Florian Wirtz and charging through on goal before sliding his shot in.
64'
vs
Amine Adli
Jonas Hofmann
64'
vs
Borja Iglesias
Patrik Schick
62'
vs
Action at both ends
Undav has a shot blocked then Hofmann fires wide after Wirtz is stopped when dribbling towards goal.
61'
vs
Jamie Leweling
Enzo Millot
58'
vs
Stuttgart soar back in front!
Well, well, well. Leverkusen seemed to have all the momentum on their side after levelling, but the visitors take the lead with a very neat goal that sees Chris Führich guiding it into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
55'
vs
Frimpong tries to feed Schick
Jeremie Frimpong cuts the ball across from the right and Patrik Schick tries to meet it on the turn - but can't quite connect with it in front of goal.
53'
vs
Undav free-kick off target
That wasn't the worst effort, as Deniz Undav curls a free-kick from 25 metres out, but it flies off target.
50'
vs
Leverkusen are level!
The hosts get their reward for sustained attacking pressure either side of the break. Alejandro Grimaldo cuts the ball from the left and it falls out to Robert Andrich, who finds the roof of the net with a brilliant drive from outside the box!
48'
vs
Schick stopped by Nübel
Patrik Schick gets through on goal after a clever ball poked through by Florian Wirtz, only for him to be stopped by Alexander Nübel.
46'
vs
Off we go again
The second half starts. Can Leverkusen come back?
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +3
vs
Ito strikes side netting
Stuttgart have their first attacking spell for a while, and Hiroki Ito ventures forward to meet the ball in the box and hit it into the side netting.
45'
vs
Four minutes of stoppage time indicated
Stuttgart will be delighted if they can take the lead into the break.
44'
vs
Schick saved
Florian Wirtz plays a little cutback to Patrik Schick at the near post - and he diverts the ball on target only for Alexander Nübel to turn it behind.
42'
vs
Grimaldo free-kick denied by Nübel
Alejandro Grimaldo curls a free-kick towards the near post from just outside the area, and Alexander Nübel leaps across to make a stunning save. The pressure is mounting from Leverkusen...
40'
vs
Schick goal disallowed
Patrik Schick turns the ball into the net after being played through by Alejandro Grimaldo, but the Czech attacker was standing offside.
39'
vs
Wirtz blazes over
Florian Wirtz smashes over when the ball falls back to home at the edge of the box.
36'
vs
Millot receiving treatment
The French youngster is being patched up after a coming together with Robert Andrich and should be able to continue.
34'
vs
Booking for Frimpong
The Leverkusen right-back is shown a yellow card for dissent.
34'
vs
Jeremie Frimpong
34'
vs
No easy way through for Leverkusen
Taking an early lead has suited Stuttgart perfectly in a tactical sense. They have sat back and given Leverkusen very little space to play in.
30'
vs
Grimaldo has a go
The Spaniard has an effort from outside the box but fires well off-target.
27'
vs
All the shots from Stuttgart so far
The Bundesliga leaders are yet to have an effort.
%% NOT TRANSLATED: LIVE_STATS_Shots %%
The Bundesliga leaders are yet to have an effort.
26'
vs
Mittelstädt goes in notebook
Maximilian Mittelstädt is shown a yellow card for fouling Jeremie Frimpong.
26'
vs
Maximilian Mittelstädt
23'
vs
Ito denies Frimpong
Hiroki Ito puts in a brilliant sliding challenge to take the ball from Jeremie Frimpong in the box. He concedes a corner, but nothing comes of that.
22'
vs
Undav from distance
Deniz Undav sends a shot from outside the box well wide on the bounce.
20'
vs
Führich has a go
Chris Führich dips a shot from the edge of the box that Matěj Kovář comfortably saves.
18'
vs
Booking for Andrich
Leverkusen midfielder Robert Andrich slides into Angelo Stiller and is shown the game's first yellow card.
18'
vs
Robert Andrich
15'
vs
Leverkusen try to react
The hosts are threading together plenty of passes around the Stuttgart danger area, but the visitors are defending well so far.