Rewritten Article:
Minus the dust of a three-day Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund (1:1), Bayer Leverkusen is ready to keep its dreams of DFB Cup glory intact. "The cup is a massive objective for us. Three more wins are required to reach the final. It's not a walk in the park, but it's an excellent opportunity," said Bayer boss Xabi Alonso ahead of the clash against second-division runners-up SC Paderborn on Wednesday (18:00/Sky) in the almost-packed BayArena.
After premature cup eliminations in the previous three competitions, Alonso is not planning any drastic changes. Goalkeeper Matej Kovar will likely feature in the starting line-up, and a potential opening berth for long-injured striker Patrik Schick is not out of the question. "Yes, he could start," said Alonso on Tuesday. The numbers favor the home side. Paderborn has yet to secure a competitive win in their five outings this season. In the cup, Leverkusen emerged victorious against Paderborn 1:0 in the round of 16 during the 2019/20 season.
Bayer Leverkusen's Squad & Cup Matches
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Bayer Leverkusen prep for a midweek tussle with SC Paderborn on Wednesday, aiming to progress in the DFB Cup, which remains a significant target despite their recent struggles in the past three cup competitions. The coach, Xabi Alonso, is unlikely to make significant changes to the starting line-up, with Matej Kovar likely to take the gloves and Patrik Schick being considered for a starting spot. The hosts have a solid history against their opponents, having secured a 1:0 victory in the cup against Paderborn in the round of 16 during the 2019/20 season.
As Bayer Leverkusen battles Paderborn, their fellow German side, Borussia Dortmund, awaits their opponent in the same competition, providing soccer enthusiasts with intriguing matches to follow. Meanwhile, Leverkusen's aims for cup glory extend beyond their midweek encounter, with their potential quarterfinal match against FC Cologne looming on February 5, 2025 [4].
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Leverkusen is set to face FC Cologne in the quarterfinals of the DFB-Pokal, which is slated for Wednesday, February 5, 2025, and will be broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+ [4]. The quarterfinals also feature other mouthwatering clashes, such as VfB Stuttgart versus FC Augsburg on ESPN+, and Arminia Bielefeld against Werder Bremen on ESPN+. Rounding off the quarterfinals is the highly anticipated RB Leipzig versus VfL Wolfsburg encounter on ESPN+ [4].
