Bayer Leverkusen irritates with a appearance against Bayer Leverkusen: “Did it break it”

Xhaka gets together with fans
Stunned Xabi Alonso experiences the biggest nightmare as a Bayer coach

By Tobias Nordmann
02.04.2025, 6:34 a.m.

Granit Xhaka gets together with their own fans, the Bayer stars scold themselves: The disappointment with the high favorite is great after the embarrassment in the DFB Cup semi-final at third division Arminia Bielefeld. Robert Andrich becomes very clear.

Xabi Alonso was frozen. That was actually impossible on this Tuesday evening. The “Alm” cooked in Bielefeld. The domestic Arminia, an ambitious third division team, had just thrown Doublesieger and the high favorites Bayer 04 Leverkusen from the semi-finals of the DFB Cup, when the Spaniard was frozen. He stood on the sidelines and looked at what happened. His players shook their heads stunned, the football players of the Arminia were joyful of the sensation from the bones. They had already ran so much before. But endorphins create infinite energy. And with this Bayer had been eaten up in over 90 minutes (2: 1).

What the Leverkusen experienced was not what had already happened in the DFB Cup so many times. The favorite did not dominate, it was not countered. The favorite was simply played over that evening, and pricked by a mercilessly hot team. Without every breath. “It was by far the worst game this season. We did a lot wrong. We wrapped it off,” said DFB player Robert Andrich in the ARD, while Bayer’s midfield instance Granit Xhaka tried to calm the angry fans again. But how should that succeed? Leverkusen had thrown away his best title chance.

After the gigantic last season, in which only the final of the Europa League had been lost, a title rose is now threatened again. FC Bayern was too strong in the Champions League, the Arminia (!) In the cup and in the Bundesliga, a lot has to happen so that the championship can still be defended. FC Bayern is six points ahead – but hardly any defender. Well.

“I have to congratulate Arminia, they played better”

The Alm shook, she cooked and at some point Xabi Alonso thawed again. Did he really want that? You don’t know. What he can comfort: With Union Berlin, SC Freiburg and most recently Werder Bremen, three other clubs from the highest German division in Bielefeld had previously been embarrassed. Xabi Alonso tried to pack his anger about the fiasco as nicely as possible and said: “Everyone is disappointed. I have to congratulate Arminia Bielefeld, they played better. We are disappointed. It’s football.”

What was actually irritating that evening: Bayer Leverkusen was almost no chance. Bayer Leverkusen had no idea how this game could be won. Not even after the early 1-0 by Jonathan Tah, who refined a corner that was rehearsed by assistant coach Sebastian Parrilla. Amine Adli had extended the short post, dusted tah on the long post. That looked good. In the creation and as a perspective for the further course of the game. Xabi Alonso fell around his co-trainer around his neck.

But just two minutes later it was over with the happiness of the guests. For the rest of the evening, which nobody could know yet: a lot came together in the Bavarian penalty before the ball ended up at the feet of Marius Wörl and then behind Lukas Hradecky. The experienced goalkeeper had given the preference to Cup goalkeeper Matej Kovar, who had recently clasped a few times. Xabi Alonso justified the change in the sensitive position with the greater experience of the Finn.

Nothing works without Wirtz

Bayer was looking for an answer, but found none. Without Florian Wirtz, the creative deficit is obvious. What had recently been discussed at Bayern about how dependent the team of Jamal Musiala is. In Leverkusen, the problem is hardly smaller, although there is an eleven on the pitch on the Alm that had all qualities: Jeremie Frimpong as a tempo player, Alejandro Grimaldo as an outstanding technician, Xhaka and Andrich as a strong leader, Jonathan Tah as one of the best defender in Europe. But all of them were completely dismissed by the Arminia, they found no peace at all. What otherwise distinguishes Bayer was a large weak point that evening. Nothing succeeded. Nordi Mukiele and Piero Hincapie in particular were overwhelmed against the pace of the Bielefeld, especially Noah Sarenren Bazeee. Maximilian Große still put the break to 2-1, the Alm escalated and Xabi Alonso fled into the cabin.

But he obviously found nothing there. Leverkusen remained inexplicably harmless and faulty. Had hardly any chances of turning the game. Xabi Alonso ran his coaching zone up and down, gestured, but his players did not understand. He even went all-in, brought Victor Boniface a second storm bump, but it was closer to a dismissal than at a goal. The Arminen continued to storm and left the best chances unused. The alpine trembled, she trembled. Coach Mitch Kniat held on his plan, just don’t get afraid and put it in at the back. You know what happens then: Bayer crushes his opponents and strikes late, very late, outrageously late. Not this time. Once a header from Patrik Schick crashed into the post, once Jonas Kersken also parried a header from Mukiele. It wasn’t more what Bayer brought about. “We have to be honest: even against a third division team, it was far too little,” said Andrich on Sky.

And now? Anger and optimism at Werkelf, all strength on the master fight: “Anger and disappointment are also emotions that can be transformed into something good,” said captain Hradecky. Seven games are still pending. “Throw everything in and see what happens,” said Hradecky: “We have completely different requirements.” However, they had carelessly thrown away on the alp.