Bayern Munich 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen: Neuer off as Tella header defeats 10-man hosts

Ten-man Bayern Munich were dumped from the DFB Pokal after a 1-0 defeat to reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena.

Nathan Tella's second-half goal proved the difference as Xabi Alonso's side booked their place in the quarter-finals.

The home side were reduced to ten men after just seventeen minutes, when Manuel Neuer received the first red card of his career after bringing down Jeremie Frimpong just outside the penalty area.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Vincent Kompany's team created the better chances in the first half, with Kingsley Coman, Konrad Laimer and Leon Goretzka close.

However, the visitors broke against the run of play in the 69th minute when Tella nodded in from an Alex Grimaldo cross.

Michael Olise almost grabbed a dramatic equalizer with a curling effort in stoppage time, but Leverkusen survived to maintain their title defense.

9 – Xabi Alonso has won all nine of his DFB Cup games as a coach – only two coaches have gone undefeated in the DFB Cup for longer at the start of their coaching careers this millennium: Louis van Gaal and Pep Guardiola (both in the first 10) . Spotless. pic.twitter.com/dW3B6yw8mF

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 3, 2024

Data Debrief: Nine in a row for Leverkusen and Alonso

Bayern had won each of their five previous DFB Pokal matches against the defending champions.

However, that streak came to an end here as they have now suffered consecutive eliminations for the first time in their history after home defeats (also losing to Freiburg in April 2023).

As for Leverkusen, they have now won their last nine DFB Pokal matches and kept a clean sheet in their last five – both their longest runs in the competition since at least 2005-06.

Meanwhile, Alonso has won all nine DFB Pokal matches as coach. Only two coaches have had a longer unbeaten start in the league this millennium: Louis van Gaal and Pep Guardiola (both in the top ten).