Bayer Leverkusen, the reigning Bundesliga champions, triumphed in the 2024 DFB Pokal (German Cup) on Saturday, completing a remarkable double for the 2023-24 season. Coach Xabi Alonso led Leverkusen to a 1-0 victory over Kaiserslautern in the final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, with Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka scoring early.
Leverkusen secured the Bundesliga title and capped their unbeaten domestic run with this Cup victory. They narrowly missed a treble after a 3-0 loss to Atalanta in the Europa League final, their first defeat of the season after a record 51-game unbeaten streak in Europe.
This win marks Leverkusen’s second German Cup triumph, the first since 1993. Coach Alonso praised the team’s spirit and hard work, dedicating the win to the fans and the club. Retiring Kaiserslautern coach Friedhelm Funkel commended Alonso’s impressive debut season.
In the match at the stadium set to host the Euro 2024 final, Xhaka’s stunning 20-meter strike in the 16th minute secured the victory. Despite losing Odilon Kossounou to a red card just before halftime, Leverkusen maintained control and limited Kaiserslautern’s chances, sealing a well-deserved win.
THE XHAKABOOOOOOOOM! 🚀🏆#Bayer04 #DFBPokalFinale #Winnerkusen | #Xhaka pic.twitter.com/fNWwBuYE1K
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) May 26, 2024
Club CEO Fernando Carro praised the team’s performance and resilience, emphasizing the significance of lifting the Cup after their midweek disappointment. Leverkusen ended the season with more silverware, becoming the first German team to win the Bundesliga title without a single loss, alongside their Cup victory.
