August 28, (THEWILL) – Bayer Leverkusen advanced in the DFB-Pokal with a 1-0 victory over lower-league Jena on Wednesday. The defending champions relied on Jonas Hofmann’s header in the 52nd minute to progress to the next round of the German Cup competition.
Xabi Alonso’s team, fresh from a last-minute win against Borussia Monchengladbach in their Bundesliga opener last Friday, found the match against Jena more straightforward. Alex Grimaldo provided the assist for Hofmann’s goal, which proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Leverkusen dominated the match statistically, recording 16 shots in all, although Jena managed to create some chances of their own as well. Hamza Muqaj missed Jena’s best opportunity to equalise during the game.
The result sees Leverkusen continue their positive start to the 2024/2025 season, building on their dramatic league victory last week. Alonso’s men will now look to maintain their momentum in both domestic competitions they currently lead.
For Jena, despite the loss, their performance against the cup holders will provide encouragement for their league campaign. Their ability to create quality chances against top-tier opposition suggests they could be a force in their own division this season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
