Bayer Leverkusen 'drown European sorrows' with a Cup... 'double'

Bayer Leverkusen ended the 2023/24 season with a 'golden key' early on Saturday evening, by defeating Kaiserlautern, at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, to win the German Cup, which together with the unprecedented title of champion of the Bundesliga.

Xabi Alonso's men entered the field determined to prove that they had already overcome the 'hangover' from the defeat they suffered in the Europa League final, against Atalanta, in midweek, and took the lead after just 16 minutes, through Granit Xhaka.

Even before the half-time whistle, Odilon Kossounou received a second yellow card and a red card, leaving the 'pharmacists' reduced to ten units. Still, they resisted and never let the triumph slip away.

Leverkusen thus wins what is only the second German Cup in its history. The only one, so far, had been achieved in 1992/93, when they defeated Hertha Berlin, 1-0, thanks to a 'lone' goal from Ulf Kirsten.