Bayer Leverkusen join Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup semi-final draw after turning the tables on Union Berlin. - © imago

bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen through to DFB Cup semi-finals after fighting back to beat 10-man Union Berlin

04.03.2020

Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to beat 10-man Union Berlin 3-1 and book their place in the DFB Cup semi-finals.

Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Union Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Ingvartsen (39'), 1-1 Bellarabi (72'), 2-1 Aranguiz (86'), 3-1 Diaby (90+1')
Red card: Lenz (71')

Union striker Anthony Ujah tested Lukas Hradecky after three minutes, but clear-cut first-half chances were otherwise at a premium. Marius Bülter had one of the best of them, though his point-blank header that Hradecky did really well to block wouldn’t have counted because of an offside decision. The mood inside the BayArena changed around the 20-minute mark when news filtered through of a fan being taking ill in one of the stands. The two sets of supporters fell silent to allow the medics to carry out their job, only returning to full voice following confirmation that the fan was in recovery and being transported to the local hospital. That came soon after Marcus Ingvartsen had given Union the lead, heading in a fine cross from Bülter.

Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz turned to Moussa Diaby and Mitchell Weiser at half-time, and the switch brought almost immediate results. Not long after Sven Bender had tested Rafal Gikiewicz, Christopher Lenz was booked for a foul on Diaby. Less than 10 minutes later, he was sent off after scything down Charles Aranguiz. There was only going to be one winner from thereon in as Leverkusen took less than 60 seconds to make their numerical advantage count. Kai Havertz set up substitute Karim Bellarabi to level, before Aranguiz powered in a Kerem Demirbay corner after Gikiewicz had saved from Diaby. The French flier put the icing on the cake in added time, converting Bellarabi's pass following a swift counter to send Leverkusen into the last four.

Match stats

Leverkusen have won 10 of their last 12 matches in all competitions.
Bayer reached the semi-finals two years ago, losing 6-2 to record champions Bayern Munich.
Bellarabi scored his eighth career DFB Cup goal.
Diaby's goal was his first in the competition, and fifth for Leverkusen.
Bayer have reached three DFB Cup finals, but won the competition just once - back in 1992/93.
Union have lost all three of their competitive meetings with Leverkusen this season.

Line-ups

Leverkusen: Hradecky – Tah (Diaby 46'), S. Bender, Tapsoba – Amiri (Weiser 46'), Aranguiz, Demirbay, Sinkgraven – Havertz (c), Bailey (Bellarabi 70') – Alario
Unused subs: Özcan, Dragovic, Wendell, Baumgartlinger, Palacios, Paulinho
Out: L. Bender (knock), Volland (foot)
Coach: Peter Bosz

Union Berlin: Gikiewicz - Friedrich (c), Schlotterbeck, Parensen - Ryerson, Prömel (Kroos 82'), Andrich, Lenz - Ingvartsen, Bülter (Trimmel 73') - Ujah (Andersson 70')
Unused subs: Nicolas, Subotic, Polter, Malli, Becker, Gentner
Out: Gogia (match fitness), Mees (thigh), Schmiedebach (muscular)
Coach: Urs Fischer

As it happened

LEVERKUSEN ARE THROUGH TO THE DFB CUP SEMI-FINALS!

90+1' DIABY DOES SCORE!

Game, set and match. Bender breaks up a Union attack, and steers a pass to Bellarabi. He looks up and feeds Diaby, who caps an impressive display off the bench with Bayer's third goal. No way back for Union now. Harsh on them - the red card changed the game.

90' HAVERTZ SHOULD SCORE...

... but doesn't! Demirbay plays the Leverkusen captain through on goal; he only has Gikiewicz to beat, but lands his chipped attempt on the roof of the net.

86' LEVERKUSEN LEAD!!!!!!!!!

Diaby tries his luck from inside the box, but can't beat Gikiewicz. Leverkusen get another chance to put a ball into the danger zone from a corner, and Demirbay duly plants a cross on the head of Aranguiz, who steers an unstoppable header into the back of the net.

83' WIDE FROM DEMIRBAY

Leverkusen are taking advantage of the extra space in midfield. A ball is played up to Alario, who lays it off to Demirbay. He takes it on first time, but can't find the target. There only looks like being one winner. Toni Kroos is on for Union...

79' UNION HANGING ON

Demirbay stings the palms of Gikiewicz as Leverkusen turn the screw. They come again soon after through Bellarabi, whose goal-bound strike takes a wicked deflection on its way behind for a corner. Tapsoba wins the ball in the box, tapping it into the path of Sven Bender. He fires straight at Gikiewicz, and Weiser can only drag the follow-up wide.

72' BELLARABI LEVELS FOR LEVERKUSEN!

That didn't take long for Bayer to make their numerical advantage count! Andrich is a touch unlucky as he challenges Aranguiz in midfield and the ball breaks of Havertz. He only has eyes for substitute Karim Bellarabi, who turns towards goal and drives into the far corner. That might have been is first touch - what an impact!

70' LENZ SENT OFF!

Union are down to 10 men! Christopher Lenz catches Aranguiz late. He's only just been booked, and the referee shows him his marching orders. Just when Urs Fischer had sent on top scorer Sebastian Andersson, too!

61' YELLOW PERIL

Christopher Lenz goes into the book after scything down Diaby. That's a pair of yellow cards apiece for the two sides with little under 30 minutes of normal time remaining.

59' OPEN GAME

Much more urgency to the game in the season half. Diaby's pace has added another dimension to Bayer's game - can they get back in the tie?

50' BENDER!

Leverkusen win a corner, which is only half cleared. Sven Bender - a two-time DFB Cup winner with Borussia Dortmund - connects on the volley. Straight at Gikiewicz! Much better tempo to Bayer's play since the restart...

47' DIABY!

Phwoar! Bailey sends Diaby in on goal. He's going full tilt, but manages to stay on his feet as he shakes off Parensen, only for a heavy touch to send the ball out of play with Gikiewicz closing in. That's exactly what Bosz will have wanted to see from the young Frenchman. Rapid.

SECOND HALF!

Two attacking changes for Leverkusen, with Mitchell Weiser and Moussa Diaby coming on for Jonathan Tah and Nadiem Amiri. Union are unchanged.

HALF-TIME!

Union lead at the break thanks to Ingvartsen's goal. The Berlin club are 45 minutes from a place in the semi-finals!

45' TAH DOES HIS JOB

We're back to full volume as Ingvartsen flicks on Bülter's pass for Ujah. He looks like he might be in for a moment, before Tah recovers his ground and puts the ball out for a throw. The whistle then sounds for an offside call against the Union forward.

43' ALL CLEAR!

A chorus of applause rings around the ground, aimed at the Red Cross Members who attended to the unwell fan we mentioned earlier in the game. A thumbs-up from one of the medics tells everyone inside the BayArena all they need to know. What relief, and what a fantastic job.

39' UNION LEAD!!!!!

We have a goal at the BayArena! Leverkusen are picked off in midfield, Marcus Bülter puts his head down and drives up the right, shaking off Sinkgraven, and whipping an inviting ball into the box. Marcus Ingvartsen is completely unmarked when he makes contact on the far side - no chance for Hradecky.

31' AMIRI DOWN

There's a stoppage here as the physios come on to the pitch to attend to Amiri. The Leverkusen midfielder landed awkwardly on his left shoulder after being bumped over by Schlotterbeck. It looked like he was about to go off for a moment, but he soon returns to the field of play. That's the magic sponge for you!

26' LEVERKUSEN ON TOP

Leverkusen are seeing plenty of the ball, but Union are getting stuck in and always have plenty of men back in their own half. This has to be decided on the night, remember, so we could yet have extra-time and even penalties.

20' MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAN FOOTBALL

Reports have just come through of a fan collapsing in one of the stands. Out of respect, the supporters have turned down the noise levels, which explains why we can hear the coaches barking out orders. It goes without saying, our thoughts are with the fan in question.

16' WAYWARD

Leon Bailey thrashes a free-kick into the Union wall. Demirbay balloons over on the follow-up. This one's yet to catch fire...

12' DANGER SIGNS

Lukas Hradecky pulls off a superb reaction save to keep out Bülter's point-blank header. Leverkusen were carved in two when the ball was played through to Ujah, but it turns out the effort would not have counted had it gone in. Ujah was offside.

10' DEMIRBAY HAS A GO

Leverkusen win a free-kick on the right-hand side of the Union area. Demirbay hits it early with a view to catching out Gikiewicz at his near-post, but the Union stopper shifts to his left and beats it clear.

9' LEVERKUSEN PROBING

Good spell from Leverkusen. Havertz slides a cute ball into the box for Amiri, but his first-time cross is cut out by Ryerson. Crucial intervention.

3' UJAH DOES WELL

Anthony Ujah brings a ball into his feet in the Leverkusen box under wraps. The Nigerian has his back to goal, but swivels quickly and fires the game's first shot at Lukas Hradecky. Strong play.

KICK-OFF!

Union have won the toss, so they'll kick us off at the BayArena. The visitors are in all-white. Leverkusen are decked in red.

THE STORY SO FAR

Leverkusen and Union accounted for Bundesliga opposition in the second round (Paderborn and Freiburg respectively. Either side of that, Bayer beat Alemannia Aachen and VfB Stuttgart. Union knocked out Halberstadt and Verl.

LEAGUE FORM

Leverkusen have lost only one of their last 11 in all competitions, winning nine. They're up to fifth in the Bundesliga - only two points behind the UEFA Champions Leagues places - and through to the UEFA Europa League round of 16. Bundesliga first-timers Union are looking pretty comfortable in mid-table, with a nine-point cushion on the relegation play-off spot. They're also only six points adrift of the top six.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: LEVERKUSEN

"We've been more solid in recent games, and showed real maturity, but Union have shown in our previous meetings that they're no pushover. They play with real conviction. I'm glad we're at home." - head coach Peter Bosz

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: UNION

"We need to deliver our game plan and not make any mistakes. They'll punish us if we do. They're a very good team, so we need a top performance if we're to progress." - head coach Urs Fischer

INDIAN SIGN?

The two sides met less than a month ago in the Bundesliga, with Leverkusen running out 3-2 winners in Berlin. They won 2-0 at home earlier in the campaign, and recorded 4-1 and 5-0 triumphs in their previous DFB Cup meetings back in 2017/18 and 2003/04 respectively.

UNION TEAM NEWS

It's five changes for Union following their 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg the weekend. Out go Neven Subotic, Christopher Trimmel, Christian Gentner, Yunus Malli and top scorer Sebastian Andersson. In come Michael Parensen, Ryerson, Grischa Prömel, Marcus Ingvartsen and Anthony Ujah.

LEVERKUSEN TEAM NEWS

Coach Peter Bosz makes two changes from the side that held second-placed RB Leipzig to a 1-1 draw. Daley Sinkgraven is restored at left-back in place of Wendell, while Charles Aranguiz is in for Exequiel Palacios in midfield.

WELCOME!

Bayern Munich are through, but Fortuna Düsseldorf are out after losing a thriller with fourth-tier Saarbrücken on penalties. Who will prevail when Bayer Leverkusen host Bundesliga rivals Union Berlin? Stay tuned to find out!