The 38-year-old was sent off 18 minutes into the last-16 clash after charging out of his box and colliding with Jeremie Frimpong. His dismissal paved the way for Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz to make his Bayern debut, 18 months after signing with the club. Despite missing the injured Harry Kane, Bayern Munich showed resilience and controlled possession even after being reduced to 10 men.
However, Bayer Leverkusen found the breakthrough in the 69th minute when Nathan Tella, who had entered just eight minutes earlier as a substitute for the injured Patrik Schick, nodded in Alex Grimaldo’s pinpoint cross to secure the win. Leverkusen narrowly escaped late drama when home winger Michael Olise fired just wide in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
In a desperate bid to salvage the match, Kompany brought on Serge Gnabry and Mathys Tel to bolster Bayern’s attack, but it was Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen who had the final say. Meanwhile, Harry Kane could only watch in frustration as his team’s DFB-Pokal campaign ended, prolonging the England captain’s wait for silverware.
“We were too hectic and tried to go forward too quickly,” Leverkusen captain Jonathan Tah told ARD. “At half-time, we said we needed to be patient and we did it. I didn’t know Nathan could be so good with his head. The red card decided the game. It hurt us and I’m sorry.”
MANUEL NEUER RECEIVES FIRST CAREER RED CARD 🤯🟥
38-year-old sweeper keeper is 768 senior club games deep into his 20-year career and is shown red. Astonishing levels of reliability. pic.twitter.com/AnVctYYBqa
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 3, 2024
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany expressed disappointment over his team’s defeat to Bayer Leverkusen but took pride in their resilient performance despite playing with 10 men.
“It’s very, very bitter. That red card obviously had a big impact on the game. I have played with ten men many times in my career. What the boys did today was very good for long periods.” Kompany said.
Alonso’s Leverkusen, undefeated league and cup champions last season, advanced to the quarter-finals. Bayern, holders of a record 20 German Cup titles, 14 more than any other club, have not progressed beyond the quarter-finals since their 4-2 victory over Leverkusen in the 2020 final.
Kompany’s Bayern side return to Bundesliga action this weekend with a home fixture against Heidenheim, though Harry Kane is expected to miss out as he continues his recovery from injury.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
