Super Bayern down Leverkusen to seal 20th cup triumph

FC Bayern beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 in Saturday's DFB Cup final, defending thier domestic double. David Alaba's outstanding free-kick handed Bayern an early lead, Serge Gnabry doubling the advantage midway through the first half. Robert Lewandowski netted after half-time, Leverkusen's Sven Bender soon pulling one back. Lewandowski rounded off his brace shortly before the final whistle. Kai Havertz converted a penalty in injury time, but Bayern celebrated their 20th DFB Cup triumph after sealing their 30th German championship title in June.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal, marshalling a back four of Benjamin Pavard, Jérôme Boateng, Alaba and Alphonso Davies. Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Gnabry, with Lewandowski up front. Ivan Perišić and Lucas Hernández took over from Coman and Boateng after the hour, Philippe Coutinho and Thiago coming on for Gnabry and Müller in the closing stages.

David and Serge score

From the very beginning Bayern left no doubt as to who would leave the pitch as winners and hoist the cup trophy. Lewandowski miscued a header before seeing an effort blocked. Netminder Lukas Hradecky denied Coman before Edmond Tapsoba upended Lewandowski in the D, Alaba expertly dispatching the ensuing free-kick with a pinpoint curler into the top corner of the net.

Bayern kept attacking, Müller drawing a fine save from Hradecky, but Gnabry doubled the advantage when he down the right channel and blasted into the far corner. The champions eased off now but were always a step quicker than their opponents, although Neuer comfortably saved a Lars Bender effort with the half-time whistle imminent.

Lewy seals it

Gnabry saw an effort deflected wide and Lewandowski fired over the bar, but Leverkusen got a grip now. Kevin Volland somehow failed to convert a Moussa Diaby square, but Bayern twisted the knife on the break, Neuer finding Lewandowski, who let fly from 30 yards and found the net thanks to a Hradecky blunder. The Rhineland outfit pulled one back when Sven Bender headed past Neuer following a corner, another Diaby cross evading friend and foe alike.

Lewandowski diverted a cross wide, but after a couple of half-chances at either end the striker put the game to bed when he lobbed a Perišić square over Hradecky and into the net, meaning Havertz' converted penalty following a Davies handball was little more than a footnote, and the Bavarians soon hoisted the coveted trophy into the Berlin night sky.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen