Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany on 'special' DFB Cup semi-final at Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany says the newly crowned Bundesliga champions remain as focused as ever as they look to confirm their place in the DFB Cup final with victory at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday evening.
Sunday’s 4-2 victory over VfB Stuttgart secured a 34th Bundesliga title for the Bavarians, who now turn their attention towards reaching the cup final for the first time since the 2019/20 season, when they defeated Bayer 4-2 in Berlin.
Kompany, whose side were beaten 1-0 by Leverkusen in last year’s round of 16, said: “There’s always a first time, and I hope it’s this year.
“These are very special games,” continued the Belgian. “The processes [and] the preparation remain the same and as important. We’re looking forward to it.
Wednesday’s clash will be Bayern’s eighth meeting with Leverkusen since September 2024, having also faced Die Werkself twice in the last 16 of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.
“It’s not about revenge,” Kompany replied when asked about last season’s cup defeat to Xabi Alonso’s side. “We only deal with what lies ahead of us, not what lies behind us. Tomorrow is another new story. We know the players well and know exactly what to expect.”
Watch: Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Bayern Munich - Matchday 26 highlights
Leverkusen were beaten 3-0 at the Allianz Arena earlier this season but earned a 1-1 draw at the BayArena in March, with Luis Díaz’s second-half strike cancelling out Aleix García’s early opener.
Head coach Kasper Hjulmand admits his side “need a top performance” to set up a final against either Freiburg or Stuttgart. “We’re playing in our own stadium with super energy,” added the Dane. “We will give our all to achieve the goal of getting to Berlin.
“[Bayern] are one of the best teams in the world. It’ll be a big challenge. We did well against them in the league in March, but we again need to be very precise and sharp and take our chances.”
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