Bayer Leverkusen has capped off an exceptional season with a triumphant victory in the German Cup, defeating second-division team Kaiserslautern 1-0 on Saturday. Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka sealed the win with a stunning curling strike in the 16th minute, securing the club's historic double after they clinched the Bundesliga title in mid-April.
Despite a scare when Odilon Kossounou received a second yellow card just before halftime, reducing Leverkusen to ten men for the second half, Xabi Alonso's men held firm. The victory brings an impressive end to a season that saw them chalk up 43 wins, 9 draws, and only a single defeat, which came in the Europa League final against Atalanta last Wednesday.
This victory marks Leverkusen as the sixth German club to achieve the prestigious Cup/Championship double. The team's resilience and tactical prowess were on full display as they managed to maintain their lead despite being a man down. Florian Wirtz’s remarkable season, with 18 goals and 19 assists in all competitions, was indicative of the team’s overall performance and sets high expectations for next season.
As for Kaiserslautern, their journey to the final has been a commendable one, considering their narrow escape from relegation to the 3rd league. Despite the defeat, the team's effort captured the hearts of their fans, with up to 50,000 supporters traveling to Berlin for the final. Head coach Friedhelm Funkel praised his team's effort, acknowledging the challenge of facing one of Europe's top teams but maintaining hope for a possible upset till the very end.
- The German Cup final was telecasted live on free TV by ARD and on pay-TV via Sky. Fans who could not make it to the stadium had various options to catch the action live through TV and streaming services.
- The Berlin Olympic Stadium hosted the final, with the kickoff set at 8 p.m. Prior coverage and preliminary reports set the stage for this highly anticipated match, highlighting the underdog status of Kaiserslautern against the Bundesliga champions.
- If Kaiserslautern had managed to win the German Cup, they would have secured a spot in the Europa League for the next season, adding an extra layer of stakes to the match.
