Bayern Munich stays on track for historic threes with German Cup victory over Bayer Leverkusen
However, Leverkusen reacted well at the start of the second half and had a golden opportunity to halve the deficit through substitute Kevin Volland.
Moussa Diaby showed a sharp rhythm to rush past Alphons Davies – who is widely considered the fastest player in German football – and threw the ball on the plate for Volland, who made a completely wrong effort and missed a shot.
It would show that this is the crucial moment of the final, as Bayern almost immediately went to the other end and brought the game beyond any doubt after a moment of nightmare for Lukas Hradecky saw the Leverkusen goalkeeper hit Robert Lewandowski into his net.
He failed because the goal of the Polish striker – certainly not his prettier – took his total in this record season to 50.
Leverkusen eventually scored through Sven Bender, but it was little more than comforting as Lewandowski caught his second half of the game – and 51st in just 43 games this season – to have 4-1 in less than a minute of play,
There was still time for the video assistant referee to get involved and add some more drama after Davies was thought to have accepted the ball in the penalty area. Kai Havertz, one of the most exciting talents in world football, stepped in and smashed the ball into the top corner.
Havertz hit the turf frustratedly, knowing the goal was in vain and, almost like a cruel joke, referee Tobias Welz blew the whistle the whole time as soon as the ball nestled in the back net.
Football has continued without fans for weeks since the sport’s return across Europe after the coronavirus was locked, but the absence of noise from team supporters makes even such an event hollow.
As the Bayern players lifted the trophy, their cries and screams of joy could be clearly heard echoing through the empty stands of the Berlin Olympics.
Stadiums without fans have been described by many as the “new normal”, but the lack of atmosphere will not be something players will want to get used to. Some matches, such as the socially distanced domestic cup final in Hungary and Denmark, offer hope that fans may return in the near future.
With the Bundesliga title already over, Bayern are now two-thirds of the way to finishing just the second coach in the club’s history.
Next for the long-serving German champions follows the 16th round of the Champions League against the 16th round against Chelsea, and Bayern is a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 lead after the first match in London on 25 February.
Bayern will now be among the favorites to secure the Champions League title when the competition resumes in a modified format next month. The remaining match will be over in August and will take place over midfield matches in Lisbon, Portugal.
For now, however, Bayern will celebrate their continued dominance of German football and their fifth home double in the last 10 seasons.
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