Key stats ahead of Bayern’s DFB Cup semi-final away at Bayer Leverkusen

Bayern are in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup for the first time in six years as they look to finally go all the way in Germany’s cup competition once again. This season’s clash with Bayer Leverkusen will have some added spice to it, given the teams’ encounters in recent years as the pair look to book their ticket to Berlin.

This will be the ninth time Bayern and Bayer meet in the DFB Cup. Last season’s round of 16 encounter ended in a 1-0 defeat for the 10-man Reds at the Allianz Arena. However, the Munich club have never lost back-to-back cup ties against a particular opponent. That’s a record they want to keep intact as they also look to right the wrongs of their recent DFB Cup campaigns. Here’s all the key stats and facts ahead of Wednesday's semi-final at the BayArena.

Although Bayern are record 20-time winners of the DFB Cup, it’s been a long wait to get back into a semi-final tie. When they do get to this stage, though, they tend to go through and have progressed in their last three final-four appearances.

Kompany’s men good on the road

Bayern head to Leverkusen on the back of an impressive run of 27 domestic away games without defeat since a 2-1 loss at Mainz in the Bundesliga in December 2024. They have won 21 of those fixtures.

That’s a remarkable streak even by Bayern’s standards. Only two top-flight teams in Germany have ever had longer unbeaten runs away from home in the Bundesliga era. Those are Bayern (38 from 2012 to 2014) and opponents Leverkusen (34 from 2023 to 2025). In the DFB Cup, the Bavarians have prevailed in 21 of their last 22 ties away at fellow Bundesliga clubs. The 5-0 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 2021/22 second round is the exception.

Leverkusen have established themselves as regular contenders for the DFB Cup in recent years. It’s the third season in a row they’ve been among the final four – the club’s best-ever run. Their last semi-final tie against Bayern was in 2017/18, with FCB prevailing 6-2 in a thriller at the BayArena. It remains the only time the Werkself have conceded six goals in a DFB Cup game.

Recent visits to Leverkusen have been admittedly tough, with only one win in the last five across all competitions. Under Vincent Kompany, Bayern have drawn both Bundesliga games at the BayArena but did win their last knockout fixture there in last season’s Champions League round of 16 (2-0).

Bayern can once again turn to Harry Kane for goals in this semi-final. He’s struck seven times in the DFB Cup, which is the most of any player in the competition since the 2024/25 edition. Those have come from just six appearances. The only player since 2000 with more from his first six cup outings was Srdjan Lakic (eight).

Lining up against him, Leverkusen have a striker of their own in Patrik Schick who’s scored in each of his last three home cup ties. The Werkself are also on a club-record run of scoring in each of their last 41 cup matches going back to a 0-0 draw with Bayern a decade ago. FCB progressed 5-3 on penalties in that 2014/15 quarter-final.

This semi-final will likely be another milestone in Manuel Neuer’s remarkable career as he plays his 63rd DFB Cup game, going level with Oliver Reck, Sepp Maier and Norbert Nigbur. The only goalkeeper to feature more times in Germany’s cup is Oliver Kahn (67).

A clear goal

Tradition, current form and personal milestones will all come together at the BayArena on Wednesday. But the overriding mission for Bayern is to get to the final in Berlin once again. Leverkusen have good recent cup pedigree and an attack to watch out for, but Bayern are excellent on the road, boast Kane at one end and Neuer at the other. It’s a chance to avenge last season’s elimination and continue the push to make history this year.

Get the lowdown on Leverkusen ahead of the semi-final: