0-1: Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso close their historic season with a double

Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen already have their double in a historic season. Three days after losing the Europa League final against Atalanta (3-0), today they won the DFB Pokal by imposing logic against Kaisersalutern, from the Second Division. at the Berlin Olympics (0-1).

Leverkusen has won only two titles in its entire history until now (UEFA Cup in 1988 and DFB Pokal in 1993) and in just a few weeks it has won two more, the Bundesliga and this cup title, in a season with only one loss in its 53 games, against Atalanta with the Europa League at stake.

Five changes compared to the European final

Xabi Alonso made five changes compared to the final against Atalanta, which was brought on Hradecky, Kossounou, Andrich, Hofmann and Schick. But the Basque coach probably did not like the first minutes since Kaiserslautern was surprised by a Kenny Prince Redondo, which led to Kossounou’s quick yellow card when he was knocked down, then sent off, and a shot from outside the area Daniel Hanslik diverted Hradecky.

Leverkusen took the game to plan and it didn’t take long to score. First Florian Wirtz warned with a drive from the left where he got past two defenders and finished with a centered shot that covered goalkeeper Julian Krahl.

Great goal from Xhaka

After a quarter of an hour, Granit Xhaka took advantage of a defensive rebound to achieve a great goal with a great left-footed shot (17′).

He calmed and freed Leverkusen after initial doubts and began to dominate the ball even without creating danger, except two consecutive occasions for Alejandro Grimaldo. The Valencian winger first poked Krahl’s clearance but a defender prevented Patrik Schick from scoring at will and seconds later his shot from the right narrowly missed the target.

Koussonou sees a second yellow

Leverkusen didn’t kill the game but they seemed to control it untilin the 44th minute, Kossounou saw a second yellow for a nasty stomp on Boris Tomiak.

Kaiserslautern warned Leverkusen before half-time what awaited them with numerical inferiority and went on to dominate the final moments of the first half. Even Tobias Raschl made it 1-1 with a cross shot just wide of the post.

Double substitution for Xabi Alonso at half-time

At intermission, Xabi Alonso made a double change after being sent off: Stanisic and Adli came in for Schick and Hofmann. But introduced by Kaiserslautern coach Friedhelm Funkel Ragnar Ache, that can change the game on some great occasions.

Leverkusen started by giving up the initiative although Stanisic made it 0-2 with a corner taken by Grimaldo who ended up with a header very close to the post (55′).

That was then Ache, Kaiserslautern’s top scorer in Bundesliga 2, put his heart in his mouth with two consecutive chances: a shot that almost hit the goal and another long shot that Hradecky covered with a great save.

Leverkusen suffered but finished without problems

Kaiserslautern gave their excited fans a ‘yes we can’ hope and Leverkusen experienced their worst moment, which they overcame by settling down the field with long possessions. Xabi Alonso was not on his side and became desperate in one against Jeremie Frimpong, he got past Krahl’s start but was eclipsed and he made a mistake in his last decision.

Leverkusen had more chances to seal the final and, although they did not achieve it, they had no trouble certifying the double against a Kaiserslautern who went down with honours. A historic moment today in the Second Division which this season has avoided relegation and is looking for the third DFB Pokal in its history.