Talking Points from Bayern Munich’s 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen

Bayern Munich do the double again, their second in a row and 13th in history!

Bayern Munich retains the DFB-Pokal cup after beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

David Alaba, Serge Gnabry, and Robert Lewandowski were all on target for the holders whereas Sven Bender and Kai Havertz bagged apiece in the losing cause. Die Roten was in cruise control for most of the match, though Leverkusen improved after the break but was left to rue some really gilt-edged chances.

This was Bayern’s second consecutive ‘domestic double’ of league and league cup trophies, and now turn attention to Europe. The major talking points from the match:

Great goals galore

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Games of this magnitude seldom live up to its billing, but this one did and then some. Not only was the tie high on action, but also produced some really breath-taking goals too. There were six of them last night, each very unique in its own way and perfectly complimenting the grand occasion.

Alaba got the ball rolling with a sublime freekick. Gnabry then joined the act with a powerful low-drive. Lewandowski tripled the advantage with an absolute screamer (albeit Leverkusen ‘keeper Lukas Hradecky fumbled the effort over the line), before netting his second with a delicate chip over the Hungarian. On either side of the Pole’s strikes, were Bender’s well-taken header and Havertz’s (consolation-yet-) blistering penalty. Great goals, everywhere!

Leverkusen up the ante after the break

Die Werkself were shockingly passive and pedestrian in the opening stanza. However, certain tweaks by Peter Bosz at half time appeared to liberate the side as they ruffled a few Bavarian feathers. Kevin Volland’s introduction at half-time for Nadiem Amiri injected the much needed pace as he teamed up with Havertz upfront to wreak havoc in Bayern’s backline.

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Their propensity to push forward opened up plenty of gaps for Leverkusen to run into, especially that between Jerome Boateng and Alaba, and Bosz’s side set up to pin long balls forward to take advantage of this. Moussa Diaby in particular, got in behind the defense with his buccaneering runs down the right flank and created a handful of opportunities.

Leverkusen let down by poor finishing

The men in black had enough chances to draw level with Bayern Munich and take this game to extra-time, but lacked the cutting edge to kill them off. Volland’s moment of gaffe though, takes the cake as he missed an absolute sitter from just six yards out, inexplicably failing to connect with Diaby’s pass despite being completely unmarked.

Soon after, another chance went painfully begging as neither Volland nor Havertz were able to connect with Diaby’s cross which could’ve reduced the deficit further and really put Bayern Munich under the kosh, while the Frenchman then failed to square off for Karim Bellarabi after the latter popped up in a dangerous position.

Leverkusen were soundly beaten eventually, but it was a game of what could’ve been had they turned those chances in.

Kimmich, Lewandowski reign supreme

Joshua Kimmich has to be the world’s best defensive midfielder right now. He was once again stellar, and turned in an all-round performance worthy of ‘man of the match’ award. The German constantly hounded Leverkusen with his accurate passes and blistering, penetrative runs. He won eight tackles on the night (!), whilst also assisting Gnabry for the second goal with a perfectly weighted pass. On current evidence, no player in his position can truly hold a candle to him.

Upfront, Lewandowski was scripting a tale of his own. He was a thorn in Bayer’s flesh going forward and netted two more on the night, a long-range belter and then a nonchalant chip, taking his tally for the season to 51 goals in all competitions! And the best part is, there’s Champions League games still to come. The Pole’s been in a league of his own this season, and his prolific stats hold him in a good stead ahead of this year’s Bllon d’Or.

Bayern edge closer to the ‘treble’

Despite the hiccups, this was never in doubt. Bayern Munich were caught out on the break in the second stanza but were far more clinical with their chances, which eventually proved to be the difference between the sides.

So now with the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal cups already in the bag, Hansi Flick and co. are now staring at a distinct possibility of a treble, a feat they last accomplished in 2013.

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The Bavarians have up to a month’s time to prepare for Champions League matches while most of the other sides who’re still active in the competition, are busy negotiating league commitments. Not to mention they’re already 3-0 up against Chelsea from the first leg, so its safe to say Bayern have one foot in the quarter-finals already.

They’ve been in stupendous form since the turn of the year, winning 15 of the 16 games in 2020, and are now just four wins away from a historic second treble, something which only Barcelona has pulled off in the modern era.