Bayern München secured a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Pokal semi-final at the BayArena, a result that was more dominant than the scoreline suggests. The numbers tell the story of a one-sided contest. Bayern took 20 total shots to Leverkusen’s four, recorded 11 shots on goal against one, and generated a commanding edge in expected goals. Possession was a relatively close 53-47 in Bayern's favour, but the rhythm of the match and the quality of chances were firmly controlled by the visitors.
Harry Kane opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, converting a chance created by Jamal Musiala. The goal came from open play and was typical of Bayern's sustained pressure throughout the first half. Leverkusen offered little in response; their only shot on target all match came in the opening period, and they managed just four shots inside the box compared to Bayern's 15. The home side's defensive resistance was stubborn enough to keep the deficit at one for most of the game, but their attacking output was almost non-existent.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Bayern continued to accumulate chances without adding to their tally until the 90th minute. Luis Díaz sealed the result with a goal assisted by Leon Goretzka, both players having entered the fray from the bench. Díaz’s late strike was his only involvement in the game’s decisive moments, yet it reflected Bayern's overall superiority. The visitors committed 18 fouls to Leverkusen's 11, a sign of their aggressive pressing, and collected one yellow card to the home side's two.
Mark Flekken was the standout performer for Leverkusen, earning a match rating of 9.0. The goalkeeper made eight saves, keeping the scoreline respectable in the face of relentless pressure. His performance was a major reason the margin did not grow larger. For Bayern, Luis Díaz (8.3) was highly influential in his limited minutes, while Harry Kane (7.9), Joshua Kimmich (7.6) and Manuel Neuer (7.5) all delivered solid contributions. Robert Andrich (7.5) was the best of the Leverkusen outfield players.
Bayern's dominance in the final third was clear from the shot map. They attempted 15 shots from inside the box and five from outside, while Leverkusen failed to register a single attempt from distance. The visitors’ passing accuracy was 89% on 580 passes, compared to Leverkusen's 86% on 508 passes, underlining their superior control of the ball. The yellow cards received by Edmond Tapsoba and Alejandro Grimaldo for Leverkusen, and Aleksandar Pavlović for Bayern, reflected the match's competitive edge without disrupting the overall flow.
The Lemeister model had given Bayern München a 46% chance of winning the match, with a projected away score of three goals. The actual result was slightly less emphatic than that forecast, but the pattern of control and the final outcome aligned closely with the pre-match read. The victory sends Bayern into the DFB Pokal final, while Leverkusen's season ends with defeat in the semi-finals, a disappointing conclusion to a cup run that had shown promise but foundered against a superior opponent.
