Bayern Munich beat Bayer Leverkusen to lift DFB Pokal

Bayern Munich beat Bayer Leverkusen to lift DFB Pokal on Saturday.

Bayern Munich clinched the domestic double for the second consecutive year after comprehensively beating Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Pokal final. A brace from Robert Lewandowski and goals from Serge Gnabry and David Alaba were enough to complete a 4-2 win against Leverkusen. Kai Havertz and Sven Bender scored the consolation goals for Peter Bosz’s side.

Hansi Flick reverted to his strongest starting lineup after resting few players last weekend against Wolfsburg. Benjamin Pavard and Joshua Kimmich returned to the lineup, replacing Alvaro Odriozola and Mickael Cuisance, respectively.

Bosz also made changes to the team that clinched 1-0 win against Mainz on the final day of the Bundesliga. Edmond Tapsoba and Wendell replaced Jonathan Tah and Daley Sinkgraven in the defense, respectively. Kerem Demirbay made way for Charles Aranguiz in the midfield. Moussa Diaby started on the right flank replacing Florian Wirtz in the attack.

The game started at a slow pace as both sides were cautious about not getting behind early on in the first half. Die Roten’s first chance fell at Lewandowski when Kingsley Coman delivered an inviting cross in the box during the third minute of the game. Unfortunately, the Polish striker couldn’t keep the shot on the target.

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Both sides were rusty in the midfield, giving away the ball cheaply. However, Die Roten looked relentless with their pressing. At the 16th minute, Tapsoba brought down Lewandowski at the edge of the box. Die Roten made Leverkusen pay for giving a needless setpiece. David Alaba calmly deposited the ball in the right corner, no power, just proper placement.

Die Roten started getting the hold of the game, dominating possession after the first goal. Leverkusen looked threatening on the counter, but the Bavarian back four mopped up potential threats with ease. Rekordmeister’s domination was rewarded when Kimmich played a pinpoint through ball for Gnabry in the 24th minute. Gnabry showed composure to slot the ball past Lukas Hradecky.

Heads dropped for Leverkusen after the second goal as they struggled to break down Bayern’s defense. Flick’s men saw out the rest of the half by dominating possession and creating a few half chances. It was not beautiful, but effective performance in the first half by the cup holders.

Leverkusen started the second half with much more determination. They almost got one back on the scoresheet in the first ten minutes of the half when Kevin Volland missed a sitter from close range. Die Roten made sure that Leverkusen pays for this miss as Lewandowski emphatically finished at the other end to triple their lead. Manuel Neuer got the assist for this goal as his long ball was brought down with finesse by Lewandowski before putting it past Hradecky.

After Lewandowski’s goal, Leverkusen enjoyed a dominating spell of 20 minutes. During this spell, they got a goal back from a set-piece as Sven Bender nodded home from a corner. Rekordmeister were giving away the ball cheaply, but Leverkusen couldn’t capitalise on numerous occasions.

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Lewandowski sealed the fate of the game in the 89th minute by slotting past Hradecky to restore Die Roten’s three-goal lead. Ivan Perisic showed great composure to find Lewandowski in the box. Leverkusen did get a late consolation as Kai Havertz slotted the penalty after Alphonso Davies handled the ball in the box.

It was not a vintage performance from Bayern, but they still found a way to grind out a win to lift the DFB Pokal for 20th time. Flick’s men are yet to lose a game in 2020. The German manager will be hoping that they will keep it that way when Champions League resumes in August. For now, the two parts of the treble is completed.

"Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1)NeuerPavard- Boateng-Alaba-DaviesKimmich- GoretzkaComan- Muller- GnabryLewandowski.Substitutes: Ulreich, Odriozola, Sule, Thiago (↓Muller (87′)), Coutinho (↓Gnabry (87′)), Cuisance, Perisic (↓Coman (64′)), Hernandez (↓Boateng (69′)), ZirkzeeBayer Leverkusen (4-2-3-1)HradeckyL.Bender-Tapsoba-S.Bender-WendellBaumgartlinger- AranguizDiaby- Amiri-BaileyHavertzSubstitutes: Ozcan, Tah, Wirtz, Dragovic, Alario, Weiser(↓L.Bender (81′)), Bellarabi (↓Bailey (76′)), Volland (↓Amiri (46′)), Demirbay (↓Baumgartlinger (46′))"