Bayer Leverkusen Complete German Double with DFB Pokal Final Win

Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen battled previous second-division Kaiserslautern 1-0 on Saturday to win the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) and safe the membership’s first home double.

Leverkusen gained the Bundesliga unbeaten, a historic feat. The one blip on the file of Xabi Alonso’s workforce this season was shedding the Europa League ultimate to Atalanta 3-0 on Wednesday in Dublin. That ended Leverkusen’s file 51-game unbeaten run throughout all competitions. It was their solely loss in 53 video games this season.

This was Leverkusen’s second German Cup win after their maiden victory again in 1993.

“Ultimately, to win like that meant we confirmed spirit, we fought for the followers for the membership,” Alonso stated. “It’s enormous success to win the double. We’ll bear in mind this sooner or later.”

At Berlin’s Olympiastadion, which is able to host the Euro 2024 ultimate in July, Leverkusen took the lead with Granit Xhaka’s 20-metre missile within the sixteenth minute.

They managed the tempo even after they have been lowered to 10 males following Odilon Kossounou’s second reserving a minute earlier than half-time.

Kaiserslautern hardly ever threatened after the break with Leverkusen comfortably holding on to cap a memorable season with a second trophy.

“Crucial factor was the idea of the workforce. They have been able to battle with 10 gamers and I’m happy with that,” Alonso added.

“I would like time to simply accept what occurred this season. It was a dream season and to have a good time the final day like this right here is particular.”

Lengthy derided as “Neverkusen” for his or her failure to win a significant title since that 1993 cup win, Leverkusen ended their season with extra silverware after additionally profitable the Bundesliga title with out a single loss — the primary German workforce to realize that feat.

“It was a deserved victory,” membership CEO Fernando Carro stated. “We may have added one other aim however total a completely deserved win. We lifted the cup after we failed to take action Wednesday. Compliments to the workforce to win this double.”

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