Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Bayern Munich Player Ratings: Mark Flekken 8.5/10 MOTM as Luis Diaz Late Striker Seals 2-0 Victory

A tense and gritty DFB Pokal semi-final saw FC Bayern Munich narrowly edge out Bayer 04 Leverkusen with a 1-0 victory. The decisive moment came early, as is so often the case. Harry Kane found the back of the net in the 22nd minute, a goal that ultimately separated the two German giants. It was a classic poacher's finish from Kane, but truth be told, he could have had a hat-trick.

Bayern controlled large swathes of the match, particularly in the first half. The creative duo of Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise were pulling strings, carving out chance after chance. The scoreline could have been far more flattering for the visitors if not for one man. What stood out to us was the absolutely heroic performance of Mark Flekken in the Leverkusen goal, who made a staggering eight saves to keep his team's hopes alive until the final whistle.

Leverkusen fought hard in the second half, pushing for an equalizer that never came. They had moments, a shot off the woodwork from Nathan Tella being the closest they came. But Bayern's defence, marshalled by the impressive Dayot Upamecano, held firm to book their place in the final. It was a game of fine margins, decided by one clinical finish and a goalkeeping masterclass. Here are Sportsdunia's Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich player ratings.

FC Bayern Munich Player Ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen

Check out the Bayern Munich Player Ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen.

Goalkeeper

Manuel Neuer - 7.0: A relatively quiet evening for the captain. He made one important save inside the box and distributed the ball with his usual 81% accuracy. What we noticed was his command of the area, coming out to claim balls and clear danger when needed. A steady, if untested, performance.

Defenders

Dayot Upamecano - 7.5: A rock at the back. He won 7 of his 12 duels and made a phenomenal 6 clearances. His aggressive defending and 4 successful tackles were crucial in shutting down Leverkusen's attacks. He even ventured forward and missed a headed chance early on. A very commanding display.

Jonathan Tah - 7.0: Solid and dependable for the most part. His last-man tackle was a potential goal-saver, a moment of pure class. He was strong in the air and composed on the ball, but did commit a couple of needless fouls. A good outing overall.

Konrad Laimer - 6.5: A very busy performance before being substituted. He made two good tackles but also committed five fouls, which showed he was struggling with the pace at times. From our perspective, he worked hard but couldn't impose himself on the game and was caught offside once.

Josip Stanisic - 7.0: A decent all-round game. He supported the attack well, creating a big chance and even forcing a good save from Mark Flekken. Defensively, he was mostly solid with three clearances, though he was dribbled past once. He lost possession a few too many times for my liking.

Midfielders

Joshua Kimmich - 8.0: The metronome in midfield. He had an incredible 127 touches and completed 97 passes, dictating the tempo of the entire game. He was not just passing sideways either, with 20 passes into the final third. His defensive contribution was also excellent, with 10 ball recoveries.

Jamal Musiala - 8.5: Our highest-rated player for Bayern. The creative genius was at it again. He provided the crucial assist for Kane's goal and created a staggering five chances, including three big ones. His dribbling and vision were a nightmare for Leverkusen's defence. A simply magical performance before his substitution.

Luis Díaz - 7.5: A livewire on the flank. He was constantly looking to make things happen, creating two chances and getting two shots on target himself. His direct running caused problems all evening, and he worked hard defensively with five ball recoveries. He just needs to be a bit more careful, as he was caught offside once.

Michael Olise - 8.0: Extremely influential. He was involved in everything, creating four chances, including two big ones. His five dribble attempts showed his confidence on the ball. The only downside was losing possession 22 times, which is something he needs to work on, but his creative output was immense.

Aleksandar Pavlovic - 6.5: It was a mixed performance from the young midfielder. He showed good passing range with 93% accuracy but struggled in the physical battles, winning only 3 of 8 duels. Picked up a deserved yellow card for a clumsy challenge. He has talent, but this was a tough learning experience.

Forwards

Harry Kane - 7.5: The match-winner, and for that, he deserves a high rating. His goal was the difference. However, we have to mention the four big chances he missed. On another day, he walks away with the match ball. He was still very involved, creating three chances for his teammates.

Substitutes

Leon Goretzka - N/A: Came on for the final 15 minutes but didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.

Alphonso Davies - N/A: Replaced Laimer to provide fresh legs but had little to do.

Kim Min-Jae - N/A: A late defensive substitution to see out the victory.

Manager

V. Kompany - 7.5: His game plan worked perfectly. His team came out strong, got the early goal, and then managed the game professionally. The decision to start such an attacking lineup paid off, and his substitutions were sensible to protect the lead. A solid tactical win.

Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Bayern Munich

Here are the Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Bayern Munich.

Goalkeeper

Mark Flekken - 8.5: Without a doubt, Leverkusen's man of the match. An absolutely phenomenal performance. He made eight saves, including five from inside the box, to keep his team in the contest. Without him, Bayern could have scored four or five. A heroic effort in a losing cause.

Defenders

Jarell Quansah - 6.0: A difficult evening for the young defender. An error leading to a shot put his team under pressure, and he looked nervy at times, losing possession 14 times. He was dribbled past once and only won one of his three duels. A tough lesson against top opposition.

Robert Andrich - 7.0: A captain's performance. He led by example from the back, making a crucial clearance off the line and six clearances in total. He was strong and committed, though he only won half his duels. A really battling display before being substituted.

Edmond Tapsoba - 6.5: He had some good moments, including a vital last-man tackle. However, he struggled overall, winning just two of his eight duels and picking up a yellow card. Losing possession 10 times also didn't help his team build from the back.

Midfielders

Alejandro Grimaldo - 6.5: Not his usual influential self. He was tidy in possession with 90% pass accuracy but offered little going forward, creating only one chance. He was also booked and committed two fouls, showing a bit of frustration. We expected more from him.

Lucas Vázquez - 6.0: A very quiet game for him before being hooked after just 39 minutes. He only had 17 touches and failed to make any real impact. It was a surprise to see him start, and his early substitution was not a surprise.

Aleix García - 7.0: Kept things ticking over in midfield with his tidy passing. He was a nuisance, drawing four fouls from the opposition. He tried to get his team on the front foot with nine passes into the final third, but couldn't unlock the stubborn Bayern defence.

Exequiel Palacios - 7.0: A real warrior in the middle of the park. He was excellent in the tackle, winning four of his five attempts. He broke up play effectively with two interceptions and won 7 of his 11 duels. A combative and energetic performance.

Forwards

Patrik Schick - 6.0: A frustrating and isolated figure up front. He had just 25 touches and lost the ball 10 times. He won half his aerial duels but couldn't hold the ball up effectively and missed the one headed chance he had. He was a passenger for large parts of the game.

Nathan Tella - 6.5: Worked tirelessly and was a threat with his running, drawing four fouls. He was unlucky to hit the woodwork with one of his shots. However, his final product was lacking, and he lost possession 13 times before being substituted.

Ibrahim Maza - 6.5: Showed flashes of his talent with some nice dribbles and created one chance. He battled hard, winning 6 of 10 duels. But like his fellow forwards, he lacked that cutting edge in the final third and was dispossessed too easily at times.

Substitutes

Ernest Poku - N/A: Came on for Lucas Vázquez but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Montrell Culbreath - N/A: A late substitute with little time to impress.

Malik Tillman - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 6.5: His team was second best for most of the match. They struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organized Bayern side. His decision to substitute Lucas Vázquez so early didn't have the desired effect, and his team ultimately lacked the firepower to get back into the game.

Man of the Match

Mark Flekken was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Patrik Schick was the worst performer.