Bayer Leverkusen booked their place in the DFB Cup last 16 thanks to a 3-0 second-round victory over Bundesliga 2 side Elversberg.

• Follow all the second round action HERE!
• Watch all of Leverkusen's Bundesliga goals this season
• Watch all of Elversberg's Bundesliga 2 goals this season

Leverkusen 3-0 Elversberg
Goals: 1-0 Schick 2' (assist: Tella), 2-0 Schick (9'), 3-0 García (36')

Having twice given away the lead against Werder Bremen at the weekend, Leverkusen were in no mood for more unwanted surprises here and began with menacing intent – even despite Alonso rotating his side in eight positions with one eye on Friday’s Bundesliga Matchday 9 opener against VfB Stuttgart. When Patrik Schick turned in Nathan Tella’s cross in the second minute, it set the tone for a dominant first 45 minutes. Schick grabbed another goal moments later, poking in from close range after Elversberg goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof spilled Jonas Hofmann’s cross. The game was effectively killed off in the 36th minute when Alex García curled in a brilliant 25-yard free-kick to give Die Werkself a 3-0 half-time lead.  

The Bundesliga 2 side tried their best to turn the tide early in the second half and could have pulled a goal back when a corner caused havoc in the Leverkusen penalty area, but they couldn't manage to prod the ball over the line. Leverkusen, for their part, were happy to go into battery saving mode, sitting back, conserving energy and inviting Elversberg to find a way through. The visitors did their best to pull a goal back - they ended the game with 12 corners to Leverkusen's three - but ultimately lacked the necessary quality to do so. Alex Grimaldo almost rounded things with with a late fourth for the home side following good work from Victory Boniface, but his shot could only find the side netting. It mattered little in the end, as the holders eased into the last 16.

Match stats

• García's spectacular strike was his first goal for Leverkusen. 
• Leverkusen have scored in each of their last 34 cup games – a club record and currently the longest streak in the competition.
• They have also kept clean sheets in their last four – the Werkself’s best run for nine years.
• Elversberg recorded the biggest win of the first round, beating Hildesheim 7-0. However, they have never gone beyond the second round, losing all six games at this stage.
• Elversberg won the only previous competitive meeting with Leverkusen, prevailing 4-3 in the first round of 2022/23 as a 3. Liga club.
• That was one of two occasions Elversberg have knocked out Bundesliga opposition in 11 such ties. Leverkusen have lost seven of their last 18 against Bundesliga 2 sides.

Teams

Leverkusen: Kovář - Tapsoba, Tah (c), Mukiele – Arthur (Onyeka 89'), Xhaka (Wirtz 69'), Palacios, Tella (Grimaldo 69') – Hofmann (Andrich 79'), García - Schick (Boniface 79')
Unused subs: Hrádecký, Hincapié, Frimpong, Alajbegovic
Out: Adli (ankle), Belocian (foot), Terrier (suspended)
Coach: Xabi Alonso

Elversberg: Kristof - Baum, Pinckert, Rohr, Neubauer - Petkov (Feil 46'), Sicker (Zimmerschied 69'), Sickinger, Damar (Schmahl 46') - Schnellbacher (Gerezgiher 46'), Asllani (Stock 59')
Unused subs: Boss, Dürholtz, Mahmoud, Pantschenko
Out: Dragon (knee), Jäkel (match fitness), Le Joncour (elbow), Şahin (calf)
Coach: Horst Steffen

As it happened!

3 - 0

(3 - 0)

Leverkusen

FINAL

Elversberg

DFB Pokal
Second round Second round BayArena

Full-time: Leverkusen 3-0 Elversberg

Despite a less dominant second-half, the home side go into the next round after a comfortable win. Their three first-half goals were enough to see them through against an opposition who, despite their second-half improvement, didn't test them enough.

© IMAGO/Anke Waelischmiller/Sven Simon

Full-time

90'

+ 2

Seeing out the game

Leverkusen pop the ball around with ease as the final whistle approaches.

90'

Added time

Three minutes have been added on.

87'

Substitution

Francis Onyeka

Arthur

84'

Yellow card

Lukas Pinckert

83'

Nearly four!

Boniface gets the ball by the left-hand side byline before crossing to the near post, where Grimaldo arrives before hitting Kristoff from close range with his effort.

81'

Yellow card

Edmond Tapsoba

81'

Huge chance!

Stock gets in behind the Leverkusen defence and looks to square to Gerezgiher to tap into an empty net, but he gets his pass wrong and Mukiele recovers to clear!

79'

Substitution

Victor Boniface

Patrik Schick

79'

Substitution

Robert Andrich

Jonas Hofmann

77'

Still pushing

Elversberg continue to look for a goal, but are yet to create a clear cut chance despite their efforts.

71'

Another corner

Gerezgiher's shot on the edge of the box is blocked, leading to another corner. Leverkusen clear, as Kovar again looks uncomfortable under pressure.

69'

Substitution

Tom Zimmerschied

Arne Sicker

69'

Substitution

Florian Wirtz

Granit Xhaka

69'

Substitution

Alejandro Grimaldo

Nathan Tella

68'

Upping the corner count

Elversberg fire in another couple of corners, trying to put their crosses as close to Kovar as possible it appears, but they haven't had any luck so far

64'

Not as dominant

Leverkusen have certainly had less of the ball than they would have liked this half, with the visitors working hard to create an unlikely turn around.

59'

Substitution

Paul Stock

Fisnik Asllani

58'

More pressure

Elversberg win their third consecutive corner after Tapsoba heads behind. The delivery is dangerous once again, but Leverkusen manage to regain the ball.

56'

Almost!

After good work by Asllani down the right, Elversberg have a corner. Kovar drops the ball, leading to a scramble as a white shirt tries to poke it in. Leverkusen clear.

54'

Early improvement

Elversberg look more composed on the ball already, and have attacked the Leverkusen half with more conviction early on.

48'

First sight of goal

After a knock down on the right-hand side of the area, Gerezgiher tries an ambitious overhead kick which sails over the bar. Bright start from Elversberg

47'

Triple change

The visitors react to their first-half performance with a triple change.

46'

Substitution

Filimon Gerezgiher

Luca Schnellbacher

46'

Substitution

Frederik Schmahl

Muhammed Damar

46'

Substitution

Manuel Feil

Lukas Petkov

Kick-off!

Half-time: Leverkusen 3-0 Elversberg

It was a truly dominant half for Leverkusen, who were two goals up within ten minutes through Patrick Schick. Elversberg showed very little other than some shots from distance, and were simply overwhelmed by Leverkusen's passing game.

© IMAGO/Oliver Kaelke/DeFodi Images

Half-time

44'

Great hit

Baum hits a volley from a fair distance, forcing Kovar into a great save. They win a corner, but Leverkusen clear.

43'

Xhaka tries his luck

The Swiss midfielder lets one fly from distance, but despite its power, his shot is straight at Kristoff.

42'

Eye of a needle

Tella tries to slip a ball through to Schick on the edge of the box, but he's crowded out by white shirts.

38'

A free-kick of their own

The visitors win a free-kick in the final third and Damar steps up to take it, before testing Kovar with a brilliant effort.

Goal! What a hit!

Leverkusen win a free-kick a few yards outside the Elversberg area, which Garcia bends beautifully into the top left corner.

© IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

36'

Aleix García

GOAL!

3:0

32'

Cruise control

Leverkusen continue to toy with the opposition, who can't seem to get near them.

25'

Firmly in control

Since taking the lead, the home side seem to have taken their foot off the gas, but are still dominating possession.

20'

Straight at the 'keeper

Tapsoba finds the run of Schick with a great pass, but he can only shoot straight at the 'keeper from a difficult angle.

15'

Tough start for Elversberg

As if the task wasn't difficult enough, the visitors are now two goals down. They've had little joy trying to retain possession too.

That man again!

Schick has his second goal in just under ten minutes! A deep Hofmann cross was palmed right onto the foot of Schick by Kristoff, and the Leverkusen striker gladly tapped it home into an empty net.

© IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

9'

Patrik Schick

GOAL!

2:0

5'

Schick goes close again

The striker has made a lighting quick start to the game, with his header from inside the area testing Kristoff in goal and winning a corner, which Leverkusen can't profit from

Goal! Leverkusen take an early lead

Tella makes progress down the left-hand side before crossing toward Schick, who finds the bottom corner from the near post.

© Leon Kuegeler

2'

Patrik Schick

GOAL!

1:0

1'

We're underway!

The ball is rolling here at the BayArena.

Kick-off!

Kovář between the sticks

Earlier this season, Alonso spoke about how he was undecided who would be his number one goalkeeper. While Hrádecký seems to have clinched that role for now, this is a chance for the Czech goalkeeper to show his worth.

10 minutes until kick-off

Not long to go until this clash gets underway!

Second meeting

These two teams played each other for the first and only time in the 2022, in the first round of this competition. Elversberg caused a shock that day, prevailing 4-3. Can they do so again here?

© IMAGO/Fabian Kleer

The defending champions

Leverkusen, of course, are the current holders of the trophy, having beaten Kaiserslautern 1-0 in the final courtesy of Granit Xhaka's strike.

© IMAGO/Ralf Poller/Avanti

Leverkusen team news

In contrast, Alonso makes eight changes to the team that drew with Werder Bremen. Kovář, Mukiele, Arthur, Palacios, Tella, Hofmann, García and Schick all come in, while Hrádecký, Hincapié, Frimpong, Grimaldo, Andrich, Wirtz, Terrier and Boniface.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

Elversberg team news

Just the change for the Bundesliga 2 side from their 4-2 win over HSV at the weekend as Sicker comes in form Fellhauer in midfield.

© IMAGO/Sebastian Bach

Elversberg starting XI

Kristoff - Baum, Pinckert, Rohr, Neubauer - Petkov, Sicker, Sickinger, Damar - Asllani, Schnellbacher

Elversberg subs

Boss, Feil, Dürholtz, Schmahl, Mahmoud, Stock, Gerezgiher, Zimmerschied, Pantschenko

Leverkusen starting XI

Kovář - Tapsoba, Tah (c), Mukiele – Arthur, Xhaka, Palacios, Tella – Hofmann, García - Schick

Leverkusen subs

Hrádecký, Hincapié, Andrich, Wirtz, Grimaldo, Boniface, Frimpong, Onyeka, Alajbegovic

What's next?

Today's winner will book their place in the last 16, which will be held on 3-4 December this year.

1:51

Watch: The best link-ups between Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface

Enjoy some of the fine interplay between Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface.

Busy week for Leverkusen

After today's game, Leverkusen host VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga Matchday 9 opener on Friday before an away fixture in Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday. How might those tough fixtures in quick succession affect Xabi Alonso's team selection today?

Ballon d'Or fear factor?

Florian Wirtz (l.) finished 12th overall in the Ballon d'Or vote yesterday evening, while team-mates Alex Grimaldo (r.) was 28th and captain Granit Xhaka was 16th. With three of the best in the world set to line up here, how might that affect the psyche of the Elversberg players?

© DFL 2024

2:03

Watch: Werder Bremen 2-2 Leverkusen highlights

Xabi Alonso's men had to settle for a point away to Bremen, thanks to a late Romano Schmid equaliser.

2:00

Watch: Elversberg 4-2 Hamburg highlights

Elversberg were in scintillating form against Hamburg as they stormed to a 4-2 win.

Elversberg on form

The visitors are unbeaten in their last four, winning three and drawing one. Horst Steffen's side sit in seventh, although they are just three points behind second place Hannover.

Horst Steffen: "We want to show what we can do"

After an impressive win 4-2 win over Hamburg in the league, Elversberg coach Steffen was in a positive mood before his side's visit to Leverkusen, saying: ""We are going to Leverkusen and want to put our best performance on the field so that we can take this small chance when it opens up...It is a challenge for all of us. We have not been to Leverkusen yet, but we are simply taking this premiere to show what we can do."

Xabi Alonso: "Elversberg have made great progress"

Speaking on the previous encounter between the two clubs in the 2022/23 season in which Elversberg, then of the third division, knocked Leverkusen out of the cup with a 4-3 win, Alonso was confident that a repeat is not on the cards: "“Obviously there are players from both sides who were there and will be involved again tomorrow, but those are and will remain just memories. They’ve made great progress since then, but so have we”. However, he was full of praise for the Bundesliga 2 side, saying: “They have great qualities. We saw that again in impressive fashion against Hamburg at the weekend [4-2 win]. But when we play our game, we’ll win. We need to be mentally ready and disciplined.”

© IMAGO/Gladys Chai von der Laage

Opportunity for Elversberg?

With three draws in their last four games, it's fair to say that Leverkusen have not been themselves of late. Holstein Kiel came from two goals down to draw on Matchday 6 and they conceded a late equaliser in their most recent game to Bremen. With Xabi Alonso's men appearing to not be at their best, can the Bundesliga 2 side perform an upset?

The story so far

Leverkusen began their DFB Cup defence with a narrow win over plucky Carl Zeiss Jena of Germany's fourth tier, Jonas Hofmann scoring the only goal in the second half. Elversberg, meanwhile, put seven without reply past fifth division side Hildesheim.

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of DFB Cup holders Bayer Leverkusen's second-round tie at home to Bundesliga 2 side Elversberg on Tuesday.

Want more Bundesliga Action?

GET THE UPDATES!

About the clubs

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

BayArena

SV Elversberg

URSAPHARM-Arena