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[2021-05-13 | Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany | 19:30 CET]

[DFB Final: Leverkusen 0-0 RB Leipzig]

The Red Bull Arena was a cauldron of noise despite the reduced capacity of 25,000 fans permitted under COVID protocols, split roughly evenly between Leverkusen’s travelling supporters and Leipzig’s home contingent. The massive trophy gleamed under the floodlights at the edge of the pitch, waiting for its new owner.

"Good evening, and welcome to the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig," Wolff-Christoph Fuss announced, his voice carrying the weight of the occasion. "I’m Wolff Fuss, alongside Steffen Freund, and we are here for the DFB-Pokal final. Bayer Leverkusen, set to become Bundesliga champions in a few days, is seeking their first domestic double. RB Leipzig, potentially finishing third in the League as they fight to secure a Champions League spot. They are also desperate for their first major trophy in club history."

"What a season it’s been for Leverkusen, Wolff," Steffen Freund added. "Unbeaten in the League until February, Champions League finalists next week, and now one match away from becoming defending DFB champions. Péter Bosz has built something truly special."

"And they have the firepower to back it up," Fuss continued. "Rakim Rex—65 goals across all competitions this season. Patrik Schick—34 goals. Combined, they’ve scored nearly 100 goals. That’s frightening."

"But Leipzig is no pushover," Freund countered. "Julian Nagelsmann’s side finished third in the Bundesliga, scoring 85 league goals themselves. Dani Olmo, Christopher Nkunku, Emil Forsberg, and Yussuf Poulsen—they have quality all over the pitch; they just needed more consistency. This will not be easy for Leverkusen."

"We will have our answer shortly, and here they come." Fuss commented as the tunnel began to move, with the players walking out in two neat lines. "Freund, let’s have a look at both starting eleven’s set to battle it out for the next 90 minutes.

---

RB Leipzig: 3-1-4-2

GK: Péter Gulácsi

CB: Marcel Halstenberg

CB: Dayot Upamecano

CB: Lukas Klostermann

CDM: Kevin Kampl

LM: Marcel Sabitzer

CM: Amadou Haidara

CM: Dani Olmo

RM: Nordi Mukiele

ST: Hwang Hee-Chan

ST: Alexander Sørloth

SUB: Willi Orbán, Justin Kluivert, Ibrahima Konaté, Josep Martínez, Yussuf Poulsen, Christopher Nkunku, Konrad Laimer, Benjamin Henrichs, Emil Forsberg

Manager: Julian Nagelsmann’

VS

Leverkusen: 4-2-3-1

GK: Lukas Hradecky

LB: Wendell

CB: Sven Bender

CB: Aleksandar Dragovic

RB: Jonathan Tah

CDM: Charles Aránguiz

CDM: Kerem Demirbay

LM: Rakim Rex

CAM: Nadiem Amiri

RM: Karim Bellarabi

ST: Paulinho

SUB: Jeremie Frimpong, Lennart Grill, Niklas Lomb, Mitchell Weiser, Emrehan Gedikli, Julian Baumgartlinger, Patrik Schick, Lars Bender, Moussa Diaby

Manager: Péter Bosz

---

"Quite a few changes from what we had expected to see from Leverkusen, but RB shows up with the strongest lineup." Fuss continued speaking as the players on the screen went through the pre-match proceedings, shaking hands. "What can we expect from these changes and why were they made?"

"It’s quite clear what Bosz is thinking," Freund said, leaning forward in the commentary booth. "They need to secure the League in the match in two days, and it’s clear that’s where the focus is. He’s resting key players: Schick and Diaby on the bench, Frimpong not even starting. Tapsoba isn’t in the squad at all."

"And look at that back line," Fuss added. "Tah is playing right-back instead of his usual centre-back position. Sven Bender and Dragovic in the middle, both experienced, but not Leverkusen’s first-choice pairing this season. Wendell at left-back is the only regular."

"It’s a gamble," Freund said. "Yes, they want to win this trophy. But Bosz is clearly prioritising winning all available trophies instead of defending the League Cup final. If you’re a Leverkusen fan, do you want the DFB-Pokal or the League? The answer sounds obvious, but in actuality, it causes nightmares to managers and players alike."

"But Leipzig will see this as an opportunity," Fuss countered. "Nagelsmann has put out his strongest eleven. Upamecano, Sabitzer, Olmo, Sørloth—all starters. They know Leverkusen are vulnerable tonight."

"Exactly," Freund agreed. "And if Leverkusen underestimate Leipzig, they could walk away with nothing. This is still a cup final, anything can happen."

~~~

[DFB Final: Leverkusen 0-0 RB Leipzig]

[1’]

Leipzig kicked off, with Sørloth tapping it back to Olmo. The Spanish playmaker immediately played it back to Kampl in the defensive midfield, who then knocked it across to Upamecano. The French defender took one touch, scanning the field, then played a long diagonal to Mukiele on the right.

Leverkusen pressed high immediately, with Paulinho charging at Kampl, and Rakim closed down Mukiele from behind, lending support to Wendell on the left. The Leipzig winger did not panic as he bore down the line despite the press from the Leverkusen left back. The Brazilian tried to step up to make the stop, but the Frenchman sent the ball inside, finding Sørloth, who flicked it towards the corner flag.

"Mukiele with a one-two to sneak past Wendell," Fuss exclaimed as the winger latched onto the ball behind the Brazilian at the side of the box. "There comes the cross, Heeeeeee-Chan"

"Dragovic beats him to it, brilliant defending from the Austrian," Freund exclaimed as the defender leapt into the air, heading the ball out for a corner. "Leipzig is aiming to assert itself early, but just couldn’t connect that final dot."

[4’]

The corner was delivered by Sabitzer with pace, curling toward the penalty spot. Bodies rose in a chaotic scramble, and Sørloth attacked it close to the front post, getting ahead of Sven Bender, but his header was directed straight at Hradecky. The Finnish keeper caught it cleanly, then immediately charged out of the six-yard box, rolling it out to Wendell, who burst into action on the left.

The Brazilian fullback received outside the box and immediately drove forward despite Mukiele’s harassment, before playing it inside to Demirbay in midfield. The German midfielder, who had surged out of the box, turned sharply using his back to shield the ball from Haidara. Spotting Rakim making a run down the left flank, already breaking into open space next to the retreating Kolstermann.

Demirbay threaded a weighted pass into the channel, sending Rakim wide, who latched onto it before it could leave the field. He continued his run, heading inside as Mukiele closed him down from behind at speed. Just as he arrived at the edge of the box, the Frenchman caught up and poked a foot at the ball, trying to make the stop.

Rakim seemed to have been expecting it or reacted quickly, slotting the ball through his open legs with his right foot. He shimmed around the man and closed in on the ball, sending in a cross before Kampl’s slide tackle could sweep the ball away.

The cross whipped across the penalty area with pace, curling toward the back post. Paulinho had charged into the box, but the ball lopped over him with an outswing, flying over him and Upamecano. At the back post, Bellarabi, who charged in from the right, leapt into the air, rising above Halstenberg.

"Karim Bellarabi!" Fuss exclaimed, mirroring the excitement of the Leverkusen contingent who jumped to their feet as the German’s head snapped forward, powering the ball goalwards. "(CLANG!) Oh, he’s struck the woodwork!"

The ball hit the top of the bar with force, flying out into the stands, amid a wave of groans and relieved sighs. "That’s a massive let-off for Leipzig!" Freund exhaled. "Leverkusen showing they mean business—but the woodwork saves them."

[9’]

Leipzig tried to respond immediately as Sabitzer collected the ball in the centre circle, turning away from Aránguiz’s press. He drove forward five yards, then played it wide to Olmo on the left. The Spanish playmaker took one touch, then accelerated at Tah, who had been shifted to right-back.

Olmo performed a quick stepover, then cut inside onto his right foot. Tah stayed tight, refusing to dive in, shepherding him wide using his body. Frustrated after a back-and-forth battle, Olmo played it back to Halstenberg, on the overlap. The German left-back struck it first-time, whipping in a cross toward the penalty spot, curving along the six-yard line. Sørloth attacked it, rising above Dragovic, but his header lacked direction, veering wildly over the goal.

[15’]

The match settled into a tense rhythm, with Leipzig dominating possession, working the ball patiently from side to side and probing for openings. Leverkusen sat in a compact 4-4-1-1 shape when defending, with Amiri dropping deeper to help the midfield. In the 12th minute, Kampl collected the ball in midfield, turned sharply, and played a diagonal pass to Mukiele on the right.

The French winger took one touch, then drove at Wendell, who sheppered him wide on the retreat nut lunging in. The winger suddenly dropped a shoulder and cut inside onto his left foot at the edge of the box, shaping to shoot. Charles Aránguiz stepped up to close him down, but the winger slipped a pass to Hee-Chan, who had drifted into the channel between Dragovic and Wendell.

The South Korean forward controlled it with his first touch, taking him away from the centre back, opening up the angle, and then struck it with his right from just inside the box. The ball exploded toward the bottom left corner, where Hradecky laid himself out, getting a hand behind it, pushing it wide.

"Hwang Hee-Chan!" Fuss exclaimed. "Hradecky denies him!"

"Excellent save," Freund added. " Leipzig is knocking on the door!"

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TO BE CONTINUED...