Bayern Munich: Positive Takeaways despite 1-0 loss against Bayer Leverkusen in DFB Pokal

An injury-riddled Bayern Munich team came up just short on Tuesday against Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 clash of the 2024/25 DFB Pokal. Despite the backing of a boisterous home crowd at the Allianz Arena, Bayern sorely missed the injured Harry Kane, as Die Roten don’t have a like-for-like replacement for the England Captain.

Even without Kane in the lineup and several other players missing due to injury, Bayern started strongly. However, in minute 17 the tide turned in favour of the visitors when goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Leverkusen winger Jeremie Frimpong.

Leverkusen eventually benefitted from having an extra man on the pitch when Bayern conceded the game's only goal in the 69th minute. Notwithstanding the disappointment of bowing out from the competition at this stage, there were significant positives from the team that played with only 10 men from the 17th minute onwards.

Great show of courage from the team

Amazingly, despite playing with a man less for over 70 minutes, Bayern Munich enjoyed 58% ball possession and outshot Leverkusen 14-11. There was no cowering from Vincent Kompany’s troops. The confidence and self-belief displayed were truly impressive despite starting the game with Michael Olise as a false number nine in the absence of Harry Kane.

At times, Bayern appeared to be so much in the ascendency that one couldn’t help but wonder which team was playing with 10 men. This reality should not be overlooked as it highlights just how far this team has come from a year ago. The 2023/24 version of Bayern would more than likely have capitulated after going a man down against Leverkusen.