Bayer Leverkusen were on the receiving end of a shock loss in the German Cup as the holders were knocked out by a third-tier outfit before Granit Xhaka clashed with a fan
Granit Xhaka clashed with a Bayer Leverkusen fan as their season reached a new low in the German Cup. The Bundesliga champions, who haven’t come close to matching the heights of last season, were dumped out by third-tier outfit Arminia in the semi-finals.
Xabi Alonso’s side were aiming to retain the trophy they’d landed less than 12 months ago, but those hopes went up in smoke despite Jonathan Tah putting them 1-0 up. Their opponents scored twice before half-time though and that proved to be how the contest would finish.
It means, unless there is a huge collapse from Bayern Munich, that Leverkusen will end the season without any silverware and fan anger peaked at the Bielefelder Alm with Xhaka ending up confronting one individual.
The Swiss midfielder, who in his Arsenal days copped anger from some fans at the Emirates, was seen in a heated discussion with one supporter as the pair pointed fingers.
Arminia last played in the Bundesliga in 2022 season but back-to-back relegations have seen them tumble down to the third tier. Jubilant scenes followed their wins with players and fans running onto the pitch as one journalist hailed it as “one of the biggest shocks in German football history”.
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Xhaka is into his second year with the German side and made an immediate impact after choosing to call time on his stint in north London. His qualities helped them to a league and cup double, whilst they were only denied a treble in the Europa League final, where Atalanta dealt them their one and only loss of the season.
This year though it has been a different story, even if they do still sit second in the Bundesliga. Bayern hold a six point lead with seven games remaining and it was the Bavarian outfit who knocked them out of the Champions League. Harry Kane and co secured a comfortable 5-0 aggregate success.
Leverkusen were heavy favourites to retain the Cup with Bayern already out. Stuttgart and RB Leipzig will play in the other semi-final with the showpiece event taking place in late May. Alonso has already announced he’ll be leaving at the season’s end after seeing his profile massively raised.
A number of top European clubs have been linked with his services but it looks as if he will leave Germany without a trophy in his final season. This year, the Bundesliga outfit have lost seven times in all competitions, which is still an impressive showing, and finishing second would be just their second top-two finish in 22 years.
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