Bayern Munich have booked their place in the DFB-Pokal final, but they were pushed all the way by a resilient Bayer Leverkusen side in a thrilling 3-2 victory at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
The home side started strongly and took the lead in the 16th minute. A clever pass from Thomas Müller found Robert Lewandowski, who made no mistake from close range to give Bayern the early advantage.
Leverkusen responded well and were level just before the half-hour mark. A swift counter-attack ended with Moussa Diaby firing a low shot past Manuel Neuer to make it 1-1 in the 29th minute.
The second half began with Bayern applying intense pressure. Their efforts were rewarded in the 53rd minute when Joshua Kimmich’s powerful strike from outside the box flew into the top corner, restoring Bayern’s lead.
However, Leverkusen refused to surrender. Patrik Schick headed home from a corner in the 73rd minute to set up a tense finale with the scores locked at 2-2.
With the match looking destined for extra time, Bayern found a winner. In the 88th minute, a defensive error was pounced upon by Kingsley Coman, who calmly slotted the ball home to send the Allianz Arena into raptures and secure a 3-2 win.
The victory means Bayern Munich advance to the DFB-Pokal final in Berlin on May 21, 2022, where they will face RB Leipzig. For coach Julian Nagelsmann, this represents a crucial step towards a potential treble this season, with the team also leading the Bundesliga and competing in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“It was a very difficult game against a top opponent,” said Nagelsmann after the match. “We showed character to win it late. Now we are in the final, which was our clear goal.”
For Leverkusen, the dream of a first Pokal title since 1993 is over for another year. Coach Gerardo Seoane acknowledged his team’s effort, stating, “The boys gave everything. We had our chances, but in the end, Bayern’s efficiency made the difference.”
