Nathan Tella got the only goal of the game as Bayer Leverkusen won 1-0 against Bayern Munich, who saw Manuel Neuer suffer his first career red card. The DFB Cup quarter-finals await.

Bayern Munich 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Tella (assist: Grimaldo) 69'
Red cards: Neuer 17'

Bayern have opened up a seven-point gap on last season's Bundesliga usurpers Leverkusen this year, and they started well, dominating possession despite missing injured top scorer Harry Kane. Kingsley Coman fired the first shot of the game into Matěj Kovář's gloves before Florian Wirtz fizzed one wide at the other end. The pendulum seemed to swing Leverkusen's way when Manuel Neuer was sent off for a foul on Jeremie Frimpong, although Álex Grimaldo's subsequent free-kick hit the top of the wall and sailed over. But Bayern gave as good as they got for the rest of the half. Konrad Laimer got through one-on-one with Kovář only for Granit Xhaka to pull off a last-gasp block and Leon Goretzka forced a good save from a Joshua Kimmich free-kick before Harm Osmers' whistle for half-time went with Leverkusen perhaps the more relieved to hear it. 

Frimpong and Wirtz had Neuer's replacement Daniel Peretz scrambling at the start of the second half, the former fizzing a cross in for the latter which was almost steered inside the far post. Patrik Schick had replaced Robert Andrich at the start of the second half but his game lasted less than 15 minutes, the Czech going off with a calf injury to be replaced by Nathan Tella. Tella then broke the deadlock with a header Schick would have been proud of, meeting a Grimaldo cross with little more than 20 minutes left. Vincent Kompany duly made a triple substitution for Bayern, with Serge Gnabry in particular providing fresh legs up front. Peretz found Gnabry with a long ball forward soon after but Jonathan Tah stuck out a leg to deny him and it ended 1-0 to Leverkusen.

Match stats

• Neuer's red card was the first of his career. He made his senior debut in 2005.
• Tella's goal was his first of the season.
• Leverkusen are bidding to become the seventh different team to win back-to-back DFB Cups, after Karlsruhe, Bayern, Eintracht Frankfurt, Cologne, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Schalke.
• Xabi Alonso was part of the Bayern team that won the 2025/16 DFB Cup under Pep Guardiola and is yet to lose in nine cup ties as a coach.
• Wirtz boats a team-leading 12 goal involvements so far this season, but none yet in the DFB Cup.
• Among active players, Thomas Müller is the DFB Cup's top scorer with 36 goals. Late Bayern legend and namesake Gerd holds the all-time record with 78.

Teams

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Laimer (Boey 73'), Upamecano, Kim (Tel 84'), Davies - Kimmich, Goretzka (Pavlović 73') - Sané (Peretz 19'), Musiala, Coman (Gnabry 73') - Olise
Unused subs: Dier, Ibrahimović, Guerreiro, Müller
Out: Ito (foot), Kane (hamstring), Palhinha (groin), Stanišić (knee), Ulreich (personal reasons)
Coach: Vincent Kompany

Leverkusen: Kovář - Mukiele (Arthur 61'), Tapsoba, Tah (c), Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich (Schick 46' (Tella 61')), Palacios, Grimaldo - Wirtz
Unused subs: Hrádecký, Terrier, Arthur, García, Stepanov, Onyeka, Belocian
Out: Adli (broken leg), Boniface (thigh), Hofmann (thigh)
Coach: Xabi Alonso

As it happened

0 - 1

(0 - 0)

Bayern

FINAL

Leverkusen

DFB Pokal
Round of 16 Round of 16 Allianz Arena

Full time: Bayern 0-1 Leverkusen

And breathe! A brilliant game, a thrilling spectacle and Leverkusen edge into the quarter-finals against the 10 men of Bayern thanks to Tella's fine header.

© Imago Images

Full-time

90'

+ 3

Kovář crucial

Musiala wins a free-kic on the right, which Olise again delivers deep. The penalty box is crowded, including Bayern goalkeeper Peretz, who has come up as a Hail Mary. However, Kovář comes off his line to claim the ball in commanding fashion.

90'

+ 1

Added time

We're into the first of four minutes of stoppage time.

90'

Wide from Upamecano!

Olise swings a corner from the right deep into the box. Upamecano gets there first, redirecting a header back across goal - but also wide of the post.

88'

Vital from Kimmich

Bayern lose possession in midfield and Leverkusen immediately go forward with Frimpong down the left. His attempted cross into the middle is just behind Tella but Wirtz is there to nab possession. He could shoot but opts to cut back inside, just giving Kimmich the opportunity he needed to stick out a toe and prod the ball away.

85'

Another attacker

Musiala, Olise, Gnabry, Pavlović and now Tel. Bayern have plenty of options going forward - will one of them find an equaliser in the five minutes we have left?

84'

Substitution

Mathys Tel

Minjae Kim

82'

Gnabry making mischief!

Peretz smashes a long ball forward that Gnabry does brilliantly to bring down under pressure. He only has thoughts of driving towards goal but Tah sticks to him well and reads his intentions, sticking out a leg to block what would otherwise have been a dangerous shot.

81'

Teasing cross

Xhaka drills a ball in from the left. It's a dangerous one, right across the face of goal. Davies takes no chances by flicking it out for a corner.

79'

Frimpong up top

With no recognised striker on the pitch (again), Leverkusen have had to get creative with their line-up. Frimpong is the player furthest forward, presumably in the hope to use his electric pace on the counter as Bayern commit more numbers forward with the final whistle approaching.

Key moment?

Tella scored just eight minutes after taking to the pitch, nodding in from Grimaldo's wonderful cross.

© Getty Images

74'

Triple change

Vincent Kompany makes three substitutions as he goes for broke in the closing stages.

73'

Substitution

Serge Gnabry

Kingsley Coman

73'

Substitution

Aleksandar Pavlović

Leon Goretzka

73'

Substitution

Sacha Boey

Konrad Laimer

70'

The breakthrough!

Grimaldo swings a cross from the left towards the back post and Tella - proving to be an inspired change by Alonso - heads in from close range!

69'

Nathan Tella

GOAL!

0:1

65'

Set piece danger

Kimmich has been taking everything for Bayern this evening and his deliveries from corners and free-kicks are causing plenty of trouble in the box. Could that be Bayern's route to victory?

Ace up his sleeve?

Xabi Alonso's plan to go with Schick for the second half hasn't worked out, with Schick immediately putting an ice pack on his left calf before returning to the changing room. Tella replaces him on the pitch, while Arthur comes on for Mukiele on the right.

© Getty Images

61'

Substitution

Arthur

Nordi Mukiele

61'

Substitution

Nathan Tella

Patrik Schick

57'

Schick down

He's only been on the pitch 12 minutes but Schick sinks to the turf with what looks to be a calf injury.

55'

Bayern patient

It really is a sign of Bayern's quality and determination here that they're the better team. They haven't had any clear chances yet this half but they're stroking the ball around with the confidence of a side who know they'll score at some point.

51'

Chance for Wirtz!

Frimpong scampers down the right wing to collect a long diagonal ball. He pulls it back to the edge of the area for Wirtz, who drags his first-time shot wide of the far post.

50'

Similar pattern

Bayern have not eased off at all and appear to be sticking to the same game plan: go on the front foot and attack. They don't look like they're playing with a man less.

47'

Just the one change

Andrich, who was on a yellow card and walking a tightrope after a couple of full-blooded tackles, is replaced by centre forward Schick.

46'

Substitution

Patrik Schick

Robert Andrich

46'

Peeeeep!

Leverkusen get us going again at the Allianz Arena.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Bayern 0-0 Leverkusen

What a game! Bayern started in control but suffered a major setback when Manuel Neuer was sent off early on. However, they recovered well and have still created numerous chances despite being a man down. Leverkusen have also looked dangerous in the final third though, so this one coudl still go either way in the second half!

© Getty Images

Half-time

45'

+ 2

Xhaka with a big tackle

Laimer runs clear of the Leverkusen backline and will be one-on-one with Kovář... until Xhaka slides in with a brilliant last-ditch tackle to clear the danger.

45'

Wirtz!

An incredible run from Wirtz, sprinting, wriggling and dribbling from the halfway line down the right before cutting inside, nutmegging a defender and getting a toe-poked shot away that Peretz does well to deflect out for a throw-in.

43'

What a save!

Kimmich curls a free-kick from the right into the box and finds Goretzka, who leaps well above his marker to power a header at goal. Kovář reads it well though and dives to his right to make a fine save.

Nowhere to go?

If Jamal Musiala can't find a way through, then there isn't a way through.

© Getty Images

38'

Pinball!

The ball sits up really nicely for Coman, arriving into the box on the left. It's calling out for a curling shot towards the far post but he doesn't strike it cleanly, his shot ricocheting off three Leverkusen defenders before it's cleared for a corner.

36'

Counter-attacking style

Bayern have switched from dominating possession and having control to waiting for their moments in transition. With the pace of Olise, Coman and Musiala they've got the tools to do the damage. Andrich recognises as much as he trips the former from behind to nip an attack in the bud.

34'

Grimaldo to the rescue!

It's end-to-end stuff now as Bayern break forward in numbers. Laimer plays a teasing ball into the middle but Grimaldo reads the danger and slides in to nick the ball off Coman's foot.

33'

Frimpong!

Wirtz scurries forward down the middle and with the defenders backing off him, the youngster can slide the ball to his left for Frimpong. He shoots but Peretz makes a fine save with his foot.

32'

Laimer in behind!

Tah loses the ball to Laimer wide on the right, close to his own penalty area. Laimer plays a quick one-two with Musiala and suddenly finds himself behind the Leverkusen defence. There's nobody in the middle for him to aim for though so he has to shoot from a tight angle - but only finds the side netting!

29'

Mukiele has a go

Cutting in from the right at pace, Mukiele sends a low, bobbing shot at goal that rolls just wide of the near post.

Unwanted record for Neuer

It's a first-ever career sending off for the Bayern and Germany legend.

© Getty Images

23'

Fiesty

Leverkusen were second best up until Neuer's sending off but it's galvanised them into action. They're now fighting with proper determination, sensing their chance to knock out the Bundesliga leaders.

20'

Off the wall!

Grimaldo takes the ensuing free-kick following Neuer's foul, around 25 yards from goal. The Spaniard strikes it well but it hits Goretzka in the wall and flies out for a corner.

20'

All change

Neuer offers his apologies to head coach Kompany and Sané, who is taken off the field in order for Peretz to come on in goal.

19'

Substitution

Daniel Peretz

Leroy Sané

17'

NEUER SENT OFF!

Wow. Frimpong's pace takes him beyond the Bayern defence as he chases a long ball. Neuer comes charging out of his box but doesn't make contact with the ball at all, instead body-checking Frimpong to the ground. The referee doesn't hesitate in showing Neuer a straight red card.

No holds barred

It's been a physical contest out there so far, despite all the gifted, technical players on display.

© Getty Images

11'

Wide from Wirtz!

You'd usually fancy Wirtz to score from here! Frimpong is muscled off the ball by a combination of Laimer and Kim but they don't clear it properly and it falls to the feet of Wirtz on the edge of the box. All by himself, he lines up a shot but drags it wide of the near post!

7'

Coman has a go

The first shot of the game falls Bayern's way but Coman's curler is well saved by Kovář.

5'

Formation change

With no Kane to lead the line and his most obvious replacement, Thomas Müller, on the bench, Bayern look to be playing a 4-2-4 formation, with Sané wide on the right, Coman on the opposite flank, and Musiala and Olise playing more centrally.

3'

Hosts in charge

Bayern are hogging the ball in these early stages as they push for an early goal. Leverkusen look well organised at the back though and are standing firm.

1'

Peeeeeeep!

Bayern, decked out all in red, get us under way at the Allianz Arena!

Kick-off!

Pavlović back

Big news for Bayern tonight as central midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović (pictured, r) returns to the squad for the first time since going off injured after just eight minutes against VfB Stuttgart on 19 October. The 20-year-old Germany international was Vincent Kompany's first choice in the middle of the park alongside Joshua Kimmich, keeping Leon Goretkza and João Palhinha out of the side prior to his injury. He starts on the bench here but Kompany will surely be eager to give him minutes to get him match fit again as soon as possible.

© Imago Images

1:16

Watch: The best of Florian Wirtz

How will Leverkusen fare playing in what, on paper at least, appears to be an unfamiliar formation without a recognised centre-forward in the shape of Boniface or Schick. Here's what Wirtz brings to the table at any rate...

More on Bayern's team

The big news is that Harry Kane is out with a hamstring injury picked up in Der Klassiker. It looks like Michael Olise is tasked with deputising at No.9, with Thomas Müller on the bench and Serge Gnabry nursing a knee injury.

More on Leverkusen's team

Patrick Schick is surprisingly among the subs. With Victor Boniface injured, Florian Wirtz is set to lead the line. Elsewhere, former Manchester United youngster Matěj Kovář is in goal ahead of club captain Lukáš Hrádecký.

Bayern starting XI

Neuer (c) - Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies - Kimmich, Goretzka - Sané, Musiala, Coman - Olise

Bayern subs

Peretz, Gnabry, Dier, Ibrahimović, Guerreiro, Boey, Müller, Tel, Pavlović

Leverkusen starting XI

Kovář - Mukiele, Tapsoba, Tah (c), Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Palacios, Grimaldo - Wirtz

Leverkusen subs

Hrádecký, Terrier, Arthur, Schick, Tella, García, Stepanov, Onyeka, Belocian

No Kane no problem?

"We have a lot of options: Thomas Müller, Mathys Tel, Serge Gnabry, Michael Olise, Leroy Sané. Harry has already scored 20 goals this season and you can't replace that, but we have players who can score goals and fill the role, even if we can't make up the goals with a like-for-like replacement."

© Alexander Hassenstein

2:03

Watch: Bayern Munich 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Spoils were shared when these two met in the Bundesliga, earlier this season.

Watch: All of Bayern's DFB Cup goals this season

Enjoy all eight of Bayern's cup goals in 2024/25, having hit four past both Ulm and Mainz in the first two rounds.

0:30

Watch: All of Leverkusen's DFB Cup goals this season

Enjoy all of Leverkusen's cup goals in 2024/25, including a rather special free-kick from Alex García in the last round.

Clash of the titans

With these two sides meeting so early on in the competition, one of them will have to miss out on the latter stages of the tournament. Leverkusen won last year's edition of the cup, while Bayern suffered a shock early exit to Saarbrücken. League leaders Bayern will therefore be looking for a reaction to last year's disappointment, while Leverkusen are aiming to retain their title.

Main man Musiala

After heading home the equaliser against Dortmund on Saturday, Jamal Musiala will now try to add to his DFB Cup tally against Leverkusen. He currently sits joint top of the standings on three goals, sharing it with Hugo Ekitiké, Keke Topp and Maximilian Breunig.

© IMAGO/Laci Perenyi

Recent meetings

The last five matchups between these two have seen the results tip in favour of Leverkusen; they have won two, drawn two and lost one of these meetings. The last meeting between them in the DFB Cup was in the 2020 final, where Bayern won 4-2. Eight Bayern players remain in the squad from that day, while just four remain for Leverkusen.

League form

While Bayern top the table with zero defeats and just three draws, Leverkusen sit in third and seven points behind. Xabi Alonso's men have only suffered one loss so far this season but have drawn five times.

2:03

Watch: Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Bayern Munich - highlights

Bayern rescued a point away to their fierce rival Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 12, keeping them four points clear of Frankfurt in second.

1:01

Watch: Union Berlin 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen - highlights

Leverkusen's previous match saw them score twice against the Bundesliga's second-best defence in Union Berlin. Schick scored the winner from a glorious Florian Wirtz assist after Jeremie Frimpong's opener in the second minute.

Bayern team news

Bayern are unlikely to welcome back any returnees, with Gnabry (knee), Ito (foot), Palhinha (adductor), Pavlović (collarbone) and Stanišić (knee) to remain on the sidelines. Pavlović is the closest to a return, but Kompany expects him back a game later against Heidenheim. The big news, though, is the absence of Harry Kane with a hamstring problem.

Story so far: Bayern Munich

Record winners Bayern look ready to add to their 20 cup titles having already blast past Ulm and Mainz in the first and second rounds respectively. Both matches saw 4-0 away wins for Vincent Kompany's side, the first featuring a brace from Thomas Müller and the second a Jamal Musiala hat-trick.

© IMAGO/Gerhard Schultheiß

Leverkusen team news

Nordi Mukiele returned to Leverkusen's squad for their 2-1 Bundesliga win over Union Berlin, but it was a game too soon for Jeanuël Belocian and Martin Terrier who could well return here. Amine Adli is out long-term with a broken leg, while Victor Boniface and Jonas Hofmann are nursing thigh injuries.

Story so far: Bayer Leverkusen

Last season's champions enter this tie without a goal conceded against Carl Zeiss Jena and Elversberg. Starting their campaign away at Carl Zeiss Regionalliga Jena, Jonas Hofmann scored the only goal of the game to ward off an almighty upset. They then made things far easier at home against Bundesliga 2 opposition with a brace from Patrick Schick in a 3-0 victory where Aleix García grabbed his first goal for the club.

© IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Tuesday's DFB Cup round of 16 tie between Bayern Munich and holders Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena.

Want more Bundesliga Action?

GET THE UPDATES!

About the clubs

FC Bayern München

Allianz Arena

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

BayArena