DFB Cup: BVB and Frankfurt Suffer Exits, Leverkusen Shines
The DFB Cup dreams of Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt fade away as they're knocked out, leaving a gap in their title pursuits. Stuttgart deals a 2-0 blow to Dortmund, while Frankfurt falls to Saarbrücken in a shocking 2-0 upset. Meanwhile, Leverkusen triumphs in style, securing a quarter-final berth.
1. Saarbrücken Springs a Surprise - Frankfurt's Downfall
In a sensational round upset, Saarbrücken takes out last year's finalists, Eintracht Frankfurt. Goals by Kai Brünker (64') and Luca Kerber (78') send third-tier Saarbrücken to their ninth quarter-final in club history, earning a generous bonus. Eintracht Frankfurt's night ends on a sour note as Noel Futkeu sees red for assault (83').
1. Leverkusen - Unyielding in the Cup
Leverkusen remains undefeated in the DFB Cup, advancing to the quarters after a 3-1 win over SC Paderborn. Despite an injury scare with Florian Wirtz (20), Leverkusen amasses a record 19 wins from 22 competitions. Although Boniface, Palacios, and Schick put three past Paderborn, Klaas manages a late reply.
Insights:
As the Bundesliga powerhouses, Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach narrowly precede as this season's title contenders. While Bayer Leverkusen perseveres in the DFB Cup, Saarbrücken's fairy-tale run continues as a third-tier team, reaching the quarter-finals for the ninth time in club history.
Bayer Leverkusen has shown remarkable form in both the Bundesliga and DFB Cup, amassing a total of 46 points from 21 league games while scoring 49 goals and conceding only 27. Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz, a key player, sustained an injury to his knee during a Bundesliga match against FC Köln on February 17, causing concerns for Leverkusen's title chase.
The team has displayed resilience, overcoming a hiccup in extra time against Köln to secure a spot in the DFB Cup semi-finals under manager Xabi Alonso. Wirtz, with nine goals and nine assists in his first 21 appearances, plays a significant role in Leverkusen's performances.
Fortunately, Werftz's absence won't hinder Leverkusen separately as other players like Schick and Sardar Azmoun step up. However, maintaining the team's form will be crucial in their pursuit of closing the gap with Bayern Munich.
In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen escalates their impressive streak, with 47 points from 22 outings, while securing a 3-2 extra time win against Cologne to advance in the DFB Cup. At the same time, Dortmund battles for Champions League spots against RB Leipzig, hoping to restore their title credentials.
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