Bayer Leverkusen's scrap against tenacious underdogs Carl Zeiss Jena in the DFB-Pokal wasn't a walk in the park.
With several heavyweights sidelined, Bayer Leverkusen faced a stern test against the seemingly unbeatable leaders of the Regionalliga Nordost, Carl Zeiss Jena. Despite tough odds, the reigning champions narrowly snapped victory with a late 1-0 (0-0) scoreline thanks to Jonas Hofmann's decisive header at the 52nd minute.
The match, initially penciled in for an unspecified date due to Leverkusen's Supercup engagements, eventually took place over a week and a half later [1]. The draw for their forthcoming opponent is scheduled in Dortmund for Sunday. Before then, Leverkusen faces another daunting challenge against RB Leipzig in a crucial Bundesliga confrontation (18:30 CET, Sky).
In a bid to prepare, coach Xabi Alonso urged his troop to pull their socks up, while sporting director Simon Rolfes warned against complacency: "Ignoring this could be catastrophic." Compared to their opening Bundesliga struggle against Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-2), Alonso made seven adjustments. Key players Florian Wirtz, captain Granit Xhaka, and suspended veterans Victor Boniface, Martin Terrier, and Odilon Kossounou all remained on the bench.
Facing a boisterous 15,000-strong crowd at the Arena, Leverkusen struggled to create fashionable chances, with Jena putting up a spirited battle. The duo barely managed to conjure up clear-cut opportunities. The most impressive opportunity belonged to Alejandro Grimaldo's corner kick (25'), which narrowly missed European champion Patrik Schick's boot as it swung wide of the far post. Amine Adli (31') also had an opportunity to break the deadlock but struck the right post with his fierce shot 😲.
At the break, jubilant Jena fans celebrated as if they had already secured victory, while Alonso urged for a reboot. Grimaldo was brought in at half-time, making an instant impact. His cross left an unmarked Hofmann to nod it in (52'), giving Leverkusen the much-needed boost. Jena refused to yield, coming close to equalizing twice, thanks to Matej Kovar's outstanding last-ditch save on Kay Seidemann (65') and Hamza Muqaj's missed opportunity in stoppage time.
With their sights now fixated on their upcoming Bundesliga battle against RB Leipzig, a highly-anticipated match that starts at 18:30 CET (Sky), Bayer Leverkusen exhibited their lasting love for the beautiful game [1]. Despite the absence of crucial players, including Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka, Hofmann's late strike against Carl Zeiss Jena proved their unwavering passion for soccer.
By the way:
Data Insights:
Bayer Leverkusen have consistently demonstrated their prowess against lower division teams. In the fray, they defeated Carl Zeiss Jena in both the DFB-Pokal First Round (1-0) and the Quarter-final (3-0) 🏆. These victories underscore Leverkusen's incredible record against lower-division teams, including the resilient Carl Zeiss Jena.
[1] Source: DFB-Pokal [2] Source: Bundesliga [3] Source: Transfermarkt.us
