Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich Preview & Prediction | 2025-26 German DFB-Pokal | Semi-Final
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The first of this season’s DFB-Pokal semi-finals comes at the BayArena as Bayer Leverkusen take on a treble-chasing Bayern Munich side on Wednesday night.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – ESPN+
How to watch online: UK – bet365, DFB Play & Premier Player / USA – DFB Play & ESPN+
Bayer Leverkusen preview: Defeat at the weekend
Bayer Leverkusen come into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat at home to Augsburg at the BayArena at the weekend with Patrik Schick’s opener cancelled out by Fabian Rieder before Rieder snatched a late winner deep into second-half stoppage-time.
That defeat has pegged the Leverkusen back for a top four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification in the Bundesliga, ending an unbeaten run of form in the league to seven matches.
Bayern Munich preview: Treble-chasing Bavarians
Vincent Kompany and his Bayern Munich side are on the push for a potentially historic campaign as Bayern Munich having already been crowned German champions and they are also in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Bayern backed up their thrilling defeat of Real Madrid in the quarter-finals by easing to an entertaining and comfortable 4-2 defeat of a strong and entertaining Stuttgart side at the Allianz Arena the other day.
Bayer Leverkusen team news: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for this weekend as the versatile Arthur remains sidelined alongside versatile French attacker Martin Terrier.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Andrich, Bade, Tapsoba; Culbreath, Aleix Garcia, Palacios, Alex Grimaldo; Maza, Tella; Kofane
Unavailable: Arthur (Injured), Terrier (Injured)
Questionable:
Bayern Munich team news: Gnabry out
Having recovered from a minor injury of late, Serge Gnabry has now picked up a thigh injury, who is now sidelined alongside young midfielder Tom Bischof.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Luis Diaz; Kane
Unavailable: Bischof (Injured), Gnabry (Injured)
Questionable: Ulreich (Injured), Karl (Injured)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich prediction
Bayer Leverkusen are in a dramatic and competitive hunt for a top four finish and UEFA Champions League football in the Bundesliga but they are a side that lack a bit of quality when it comes to the crunch games against the higher level. They may well be able to pose a threat to the Bavarians but Bayern are the firm favourites to make it through to the DFB-Pokal final.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich tip: Bayern Munich to win & over 2.5 goals
