Bayer Leverkusen head into the DFB Cup semi-finals after overcoming St. Pauli

Bayer Leverkusen secured their place in the DFB Cup semi-finals with a convincing 3-0 win over St. Pauli at the BayArena.

Bayer Leverkusen 3–0 St. Pauli
Goals: 1-0 Terrier 32', 2-0 Schick 63', 3-0 Hofmann 90'+2

Kasper Hjulmand's Leverkusen side continued their love affair with the DFB Cup by booking their place in the semi-finals on Tuesday evening. Coming into this quarter-final tie at the BayArena, Leverkusen had found form with three consecutive victories after a difficult start to 2026, while Alexander Blessin's St. Pauli team arrived determined to reach just their second-ever cup semi-final despite struggling in the Bundesliga with only one win in their last eight matches.

Martin Terrier broke the deadlock with a sublime volley. - Pau Barrena

Terrier makes the breakthrough

Despite their contrasting form, it was the visitors who threatened first. From an early corner, Pauli created a frantic scramble in the Leverkusen box with both James Sands and Martijn Kaars seeing efforts blocked, before Joel Chima Fujita fired narrowly wide with a clear sight of goal.

Hjulmand's men gradually established control but squandered a golden opportunity when Pauli goalkeeper Ben Voll's mistake presented Patrik Schick with an open goal, only for the Czech striker to fire straight at Karol Mets on the line.

The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute when Martin Terrier pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box and arrowed a precise volley into the bottom corner beyond Voll's reach. The Kiezkickers responded well before the interval, with Kaars missing from close range after good work down the right.

Martijn Kaars missed a golden opportunity to draw his side level. - IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

Schick and Hofmann seal the deal

Blessin made a double change at half-time, introducing Manolis Saliakas and Ricky-Jade Jones, but Leverkusen remained firmly in control after the restart. The hosts' dominance was rewarded in the 63rd minute when, following a short corner, Aleix García delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post where Schick volleyed home with clinical precision.

Any hopes of a Pauli comeback were extinguished when Jones limped off injured, having been on the pitch for just 35 minutes. Leverkusen nearly added a third when Jonas Hofmann, on for Terrier, struck the post with a powerful drive from outside the box.

The substitute would not be denied in stoppage time, however, as he collected Alejandro Grimaldo's delicate lofted pass and finished expertly past Voll to complete a convincing victory.

Jonas Hofmann's late goal capped off a dominant second half display from Leverkusen. - IMAGO/Revierfoto

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