In a surprising turn of events, Bayern Munich experienced a stunning exit from the German Cup after a 1-0 defeat at home to defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. This match marked a significant moment in the career of Manuel Neuer, the Bayern captain, who received his first-ever red card during his illustrious tenure, which includes 124 appearances for the German national team.
The incident occurred in the 17th minute when Neuer committed a body check on Jeremie Frimpong, who was poised to score following a long pass from Johnathan Tah. Although Bayern’s players protested the decision, it was clear that Neuer had made no attempt to play the ball.
Despite missing their star striker Harry Kane due to a recent hamstring injury, Bayern put up a strong fight in the first half, generating several scoring opportunities. However, Leverkusen stayed composed, with coach Xabi Alonso bringing on Patrik Schick in the second half. Unfortunately, Schick sustained a left calf injury shortly after, leading to Nathan Tella stepping in and scoring the match’s only goal in the 69th minute, courtesy of a well-placed cross from Álex Grimaldo.
Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich expressed disappointment at losing what could have been the first title of the season. Notably, Alonso, a former Bayern player, has maintained an impressive record against his old club, having never lost to them in five encounters.
In other matches, Werder Bremen secured a narrow 1-0 victory over second-division Darmstadt, while previous finalist Freiburg faced an unexpected defeat to third-division side Arminia Bielefeld, ending their tournament run with a 3-1 loss. Stuttgart also advanced, winning decisively with a 3-0 score against Jahn Regensburg.
While this defeat is a setback for Bayern Munich, it may serve as a wake-up call that could galvanize the team’s performance in upcoming matches. Fans can remain hopeful for a strong comeback as the season progresses.