Leverkusen
Bayern Munich booked their place in the DFB-Pokal final with a commanding 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, powered by goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz.
The win marks Bayern’s return to the German Cup final for the first time since 2020, ending their longest absence from the showpiece in Berlin in over two decades. The Bavarian giants, who hold a record 20 cup titles, kept their hopes of a treble alive following their recent Bundesliga success.
Kane broke the deadlock after 17 minutes, reacting quickest inside the box after a well-worked move involving Jamal Musiala and Diaz. The England captain finished emphatically after the ball slipped past the Colombian forward.
Leverkusen, the 2024 cup winners, attempted to respond through counter-attacks, with Nathan Tella forcing a sharp save from Manuel Neuer early in the second half. However, Bayern remained in control for most of the contest, limiting the hosts’ clear chances.
Goalkeeper Mark Flekken kept Leverkusen in the game with several important saves, denying Kane and Diaz multiple times as Bayern pushed for a second goal to kill the tie.
The breakthrough moment came deep into stoppage time when Diaz finally got his reward, converting a pass from Leon Goretzka. The goal was initially ruled offside but was later awarded after a VAR review, confirming Bayern’s passage to the final.
Speaking after the match, Kane expressed delight at reaching Berlin, describing it as a major objective for the team this season. He praised the squad’s resilience in navigating a difficult knockout run, highlighting the importance of grinding out results in tough away fixtures.
Leverkusen, despite reaching their third consecutive semi-final, struggled to match Bayern’s intensity on the night and were unable to replicate last season’s success against the German champions.
With this win, Bayern continue their pursuit of a historic treble and will now prepare for the final, where they will face either VfB Stuttgart or SC Freiburg in Berlin.