Facts ahead of Bayern vs. Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Cup

Bayern against Bayer Leverkusen is without doubt the tie of the round in the last 16 of the DFB Cup, and the Bavarians are very much aware of the significance of Tuesday’s clash. When asked after Saturday’s Bundesliga draw at Borussia Dortmund whether this is the most important game of the season coming up, Joshua Kimmich responded with “Absolutely”. Read up on the stats and facts ahead of taking on the cup holders at the Allianz Arena.

Good cup record against Bayer

Although recent encounters with the Werkself have proven tough for Bayern, they do still boast a good record against them in the DFB Cup. The Reds have lost just one of seven knockout ties thus far, which came away from home in the 2008/09 quarter-final (4-2). The last time Bayern hosted Leverkusen in the cup was actually way back in March 2003 in the semi-final at the old Olympiastadion.

Ulm, Mainz, Leverkusen

Bayern are building momentum in this cup campaign, with two 4-0 wins so far away at Bundesliga 2 side Ulm in the first round and then at Mainz in the second. The last time the Bavarians recorded two consecutive victories by at least four goals in the DFB Cup was in the 2017/18 quarter and semi-finals, with a 6-0 win at Paderborn followed by a 6-2 victory in Leverkusen.

Last 16 usually no hurdle

Bayern are full of confidence after the weekend’s draw in Dortmund maintained their unbeaten domestic record this season at 14 fixtures. The Reds have also progressed in each of the last 14 campaigns when they’ve reached the last 16 of the cup. The last time they fell at this hurdle was back in December 2006 away at Alemannia Aachen (4-2). However, this is only the second time in the last five years that FCB have been among the final 16.

Tuesday’s meeting is the first time in seven years that Bayern will face the DFB Cup holders in the competition. On that last occasion the Reds beat Dortmund 2-1 at home in December 2017. The cup’s most successful club has also advanced in their last five ties against holders, with the last blip coming away at Schalke in the 2001/02 semi-finals (2-0).

Solid defensive lines

Although Vincent Kompany’s men saw their seven-game run of clean sheets ended last time out in Dortmund, the team has still shown real defensive steel, including in the cup, where Bayern have managed back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since 2017. However, Leverkusen can also keep pace in that regard, having recorded four straight shutouts in the DFB Cup for the first time since 2015. Their best run of seven in the competition came across 1992 and 1993.

Müller to go level with Kahn

Should Thomas Müller feature against Leverkusen, he will go level with Oliver Kahn on 68 DFB Cup appearances. Only Mirko Votava (79) and Charly Körbel (70) have played more matches in Germany’s domestic cup. Körbel is also the only man who can beat Müller for most appearances for a single team, with both famously one-club men.

Jamal Musiala is obviously still some way off those numbers, but he’s racing through some milestones of his own. His hat-trick in the second round at Mainz made him the second-youngest Bayern player to score three goals in a DFB Cup game, aged 21 years and 247 days, after Uli Hoeneß against Barmbek-Uhlenhorst in December 1972 (20 years, 350 days).

Alonso following Van Gaal and Guardiola

It goes without saying that Bayern can’t and won’t underestimate Leverkusen in the cup, especially on the back of their domestic double last season. The Werkself are also unbeaten in their last four competitive encounters with FCB (W2, D2). In addition, Xabi Alonso boasts a proud record of having progressed in all eight cup ties as a coach. Since the turn of the millennium, only two people have enjoyed longer unbeaten runs to begin their coaching careers in Germany’s cup, with Louis van Gaal and Pep Guardiola both advancing in their first 10 ties, and both in charge of Bayern.