German Cup: Schick at the Double for Holders Leverkusen, Wolfsburg Eliminate Dortmund
A brace from Patrick Schick propelled German Cup holders Bayer Leverkusen to the next round, bolstering their chances of back-to-back titles. Leverkusen started explosively, with Schick finding the net twice within the opening 10 minutes, setting the tone for a dominant performance.
Aleix Garcia added a stunning free-kick goal in the 36th minute, further extending Leverkusen’s lead. The team showcased their attacking prowess, leaving Elversberg struggling to keep up. Despite making three halftime substitutions, Elversberg was unable to penetrate Xabi Alonso’s formidable side.
It’s worth noting that Elversberg had previously beaten Leverkusen in the first round of the 2022-23 German Cup, making them the last team to defeat the current holders in this competition. This history added an extra layer of intensity to the match, but Leverkusen’s early goals ensured they were never in danger.
In other matches, RB Leipzig, previous back-to-back German Cup winners, triumphed over St. Pauli with a 4-2 victory. Yussuf Poulsen played a pivotal role, scoring a brace. Leipzig raced to a 2-0 lead within just 17 minutes, with goals from both Poulsen and Christoph Baumgartner.
St. Pauli managed to pull one back through Morgan Guilavogui, but Poulsen struck again just two minutes later to restore the two-goal advantage. The match concluded with a stylish solo goal from Norwegian forward Antonio Nusa, sealing the win for Leipzig.
Augsburg also had a strong showing, advancing past five-time champions Schalke with a convincing 3-0 victory. Goals from Alexis Claude-Maurice, Arne Maier, and Samuel Essende highlighted Augsburg’s offensive capabilities.
Karlsruhe secured their place in the next round with a 2-0 win over Kickers Offenbach, demonstrating solid performance throughout the match.
In a tense encounter, VfL Wolfsburg snatched a late 1-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund, thanks to a goal from Jonas Wind in the second half of extra time. This defeat marked Dortmund’s third loss in a week, following setbacks against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Augsburg in the league.
Despite a promising start and multiple chances, Dortmund failed to capitalize on their opportunities. Wolfsburg grew stronger as the game progressed, hitting the woodwork early in the first half of extra time. Wind’s decisive goal in the 117th minute not only secured the win but also added to the mounting pressure on Dortmund’s coach, Nuri Sahin.
