- Granit Xhaka hits surprise winner as Bayer Leverkusen full German double
- Xabi Alonso’s aspect beat Kaiserslautern to win their first German Cup since 1993
- Kane first, Saka second… which participant in Gareth Southgate’s squad has the third most targets for England? Take heed to the It is All Kicking Off! Podcast
Granit Xhaka’s surprise purpose sealed a home league and cup double for Bayer Leverkusen as they beat Kaiserslautern to win the DFB Pokal.
The victory means Xabi Alonso’s aspect full an unprecedented unbeaten season in Germany, and land the membership’s first-ever double.
It was the right response after tripping up of their solely defeat of the season on Wednesday night time as they misplaced 3-0 to Atalanta within the Europa League Ultimate.
Former Arsenal midfielder Xhaka scored the one purpose of the sport in opposition to Leverkusen’s second division opponents.
His sweetly struck strike from twenty-five yards was sufficient to see Leverkusen take dwelling the trophy, but it surely grew to become a battling efficiency as soon as they had been diminished to 10 males simply earlier than half time.
Bayer Leverkusen rejoice successful the DFB Pokal to bag an undefeated German double
Granit Xhaka scored the one purpose of the sport with this scorching strike to beat Kaiserslautern
Xabi Alonso led the aspect to their first-ever double and first German cup win since 1993
Defender Odilon Kossounou was proven a second yellow card on the stroke of half time for a mistimed sort out on Boris Tomiak.
But, the German champions managed the sport, even with the drawback, to win their solely their second German Cup and their first since their maiden win in 1993.
Kaiserslautern hardly ever threatened after the break with Leverkusen comfortably holding on to cap a memorable season with a second trophy.
‘It was a deserved victory,’ stated membership CEO Fernando Carro. ‘We might have added one other purpose however general a completely deserved win. We lifted the Cup after we failed to take action Wednesday. Compliments to the staff to win this double.’
Lengthy derided as ‘Neverkusen’ for his or her failure to win a serious title since that 1993 Cup win, the membership have seen off all-comers this season to dominate German soccer.
The gamers rejoice Xhaka’s successful purpose as they bag the German Cup to go together with the league
Even Odilon Kossounou’s crimson card could not derail Bayer Leverkusen’s night in Berlin
Leverkusen completed 17-points away from second-place Stuttgart within the ultimate Bundesliga standings, with Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich a degree additional again in third place.
It noticed Alonso develop into the primary Leverkusen boss to make them the league title, and did it with out dropping a single recreation all marketing campaign.
The Spainarid’s exploits had seen him linked to a variety of Europe’s prime jobs, together with the vacant posts at each former golf equipment Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
Nonetheless, Alonso has dedicated his future to Leverkusen forward of the membership’s Champions League marketing campaign and title defence subsequent season.
