In a thrilling encounter at the Allianz Arena, Nathan Tella’s second-half strike secured Bayer Leverkusen’s place in the German Cup quarter-finals, overcoming a 10-man Bayern Munich side in front of 75,000 spectators.
Bayern’s hopes were dashed early in the match when veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer received a straight red card in the 17th minute. Rushing off his line to intercept a dangerous run from Jeremie Frimpong, Neuer collided with the Leverkusen winger, leaving referee Tobias Stieler with little choice but to send him off. This marked a pivotal moment for the reigning German champions, who were forced to reorganize their defense with substitute goalkeeper Daniel Peretz stepping in.
Despite their numerical advantage, Leverkusen struggled to break through Bayern’s disciplined backline for much of the game. However, the breakthrough came in the 69th minute, thanks to a moment of brilliance from Nathan Tella. The English forward, who joined Leverkusen from Burnley in 2023, latched onto a sublime cross from Alex Grimaldo, firing a first-time finish past Peretz to give his side the lead.
The goal underscored Tella’s growing importance to Xabi Alonso’s team, as he celebrated the winner with teammate Jeremie Frimpong, who had played a key role in forcing Neuer’s dismissal earlier.
Bayern Munich, missing star striker Harry Kane due to injury, fought valiantly to find an equalizer. Dayot Upamecano came closest, narrowly missing the far post with a header that had the Allianz Arena holding its breath. Kingsley Coman and Kim Min-jae also squandered crucial opportunities, failing to capitalize on Joshua Kimmich’s precise set-piece deliveries.
The defeat extends Bayern’s barren run in the German Cup, with the club last lifting the trophy in 2020. In contrast, Xabi Alonso maintained his perfect record in the competition, leading Leverkusen to their eighth successive Cup victory under his stewardship.
Leverkusen now move forward with renewed confidence as they chase more silverware, while Bayern Munich must regroup and refocus on other fronts after a rare setback on home turf.