Neuer, what the hell are you doing? Throw away the KIM trophy! 'Injured fighting spirit Kim Min-jae 84 minutes' Munich lost 0-1 to Leverkusen → 2 consecutive seasons early elimination of Pokal

Dec 04, 2024

Manuel Neuer's shocking exit caused Bayern Munich to fail to try to win the German Football Federation (DFB) Pokal for the second consecutive season. On the 4th (Korea time), Bayern was eliminated by losing 0-1 to Leverkusen in the round of 16 of the DFB Pokal in the 2024-2025 season at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. After losing to Jarbrücken (third division) last season and being eliminated in the second round, he failed to reach the final stage of Pokal this season and lost the opportunity to win the trophy. AP Yonhap News

Bayern Munich failed to win the German Football Federation (DFB) Pokal for the second consecutive season due to Manuel Neuer's shocking exit.

Bayern was eliminated by losing 0-1 to Leverkusen in the round of 16 of the DFB Pokal in the 2024-2025 season at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany on the 4th (Korea time).

Bayern lost to Jarbrücken (third division) last season and was eliminated in the second round, and failed to reach the Pokal finals this season and lost the opportunity to win the trophy. Bayern was able to aim for the trophy in all competitions participating this season, including Pokal, Bundesliga, and European Champions League, but the elimination ended one tournament early.

Bayern opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jamal Musiala took the zero-top role, and Leroy Sane, Michael Olise and Kingsley Comang were in the second line. Jojua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka worked together in the third line, while Konrat Reimer, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae and Alfonso Davis formed the four-back. Neuer wore goalkeeper gloves.

Leverkusen fought back with a 4-5-1 formation. Florian Birtz is at the forefront, while Jeremy Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Robert Andrich, Ezequiel Palacios and Alejandro Grimaldo are in the midfield. Nordi Mukiele, Yonatanta, Edmond Topsova and Piero Incapier were among the four backs. Mattei Kovar defended the goal.

The two teams, which were engaged in a battle at the beginning of the game, completely changed the atmosphere of the game due to the exit of one player. In the 17th minute of the first half, Neuer collided with his opponent, Frimpong, in the process of advancing and stopping the ball that came to Bayern's defense with a long ball. The referee immediately declared Neuer's exit because it was a strong clash with a clear goal blocking. It was Neuer's first career exit. Bayern immediately put in Daniel Peretz without Sane.

Leverkusen took the lead after Neuer's exit. In the 32nd minute of the first half, Topsova's shot from the left side of the box was blocked by Peretz's good defense, and in the 45th minute of the first half, Birtz entered the box from the right and tried to break through three people, and the shot went off the goal line as it was.

Bayern looked for an opportunity through a counterattack. Kim Min-jae, who rushed Davis' cross into the box in the third minute of extra time in the first half, finished with a header in the center, but it rose a little over the net. The first half ended 0-0.

Leverkusen continued to shake Bayern in the second half. Birz's shot from the center of the box, which received Frimpong's pass in the 6th minute of the second half, flowed to the side of the net. In the 12th minute of the second half, Kim Min-jae blocked Leverkusen's counterattack from the right with a quick cover.

Leverkusen eventually broke through Bayern's defense and scored the first goal. In the 24th minute of the second half, Grimaldo's sharp cross from the left arrived exactly at Teller's head located between Kim Min-jae and Davis. Teller's header shook Bayern's net as it was.

Kim Min-jae, who continued to play as a starter in the aftermath of the injury, left the ground in the 39th minute of the second half, replacing Matistel. After that, Leverkusen ended up winning 1-0.

After the game, there was a series of criticisms about Neuer, who blew Bayern's chance to win. Germany's Avent Zeitung gave Neuer a six-point rating on the worst player, who came out of the net and stopped Frimpong. I got a red card for a sudden jersey. Took too much risk, got his first send-off in 866 games. It's a very bitter thing.

Germany's SPOX was also 'unnecessary for Neuer. It didn't seem dangerous enough to require a sudden stop. Neuer didn't want to admit his first exit, but the red card was the right decision. On the other hand, as for Kim Min-jae, although he was not involved in Leverkusen's first score, he improved, was stable and eye-catching. I was able to score with a good header. The responsibility for the loss scene was also the furthest. Germany's TZ gave the lowest rating of 'Bayern's trophy was thrown away' and 'Noyer was sent off the moment he crashed into Frimpong with his body and harmed his team'

digh1229@sportschosun.com