Bayern Munich stormed into the German Cup semifinals for the first time since 2020, delivering a clinical 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig in the quarterfinals. Both goals arrived in the second half, showcasing Bayern’s tactical mastery and lethal finishing.
Leipzig burst out of the blocks with intent, as Christoph Baumgartner thought he’d opened the scoring in the fourth minute. But VAR had the final say, ruling it out for offside. Bayern gradually wrested control, with Harry Kane testing goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt early on. In the 11th minute, Castello Lukeba’s desperate clearance off the line from a rebound kept Leipzig alive.
Bayern ramped up the pressure mid-first half. Luis Diaz and Kane probed relentlessly, but Leipzig’s backline held firm. A contentious moment arose when Josip Stanisic felled Antonio Nusa just outside the box, yet the referee waved play on. The teams traded blows to halftime with the score locked at 0-0.
The second half tilted decisively in the 64th minute. Vandevoordt slipped while challenging Stanisic, handing Bayern a penalty. Kane converted with ice-cold precision, igniting the crowd. Just three minutes later, Diaz doubled the lead in the 67th, rifling home a beauty.
Bayern dominated from there, denying Leipzig any sniff of a comeback. This triumph catapults them into the final four alongside Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart, and Freiburg. The semifinal draw is set for February 22. Post-match, Leipzig chairman Oliver Mintzlaff graciously congratulated Bayern while vowing his side’s determination to topple them next time.