Bayer Leverkusen’s Simon Rolfes disappointed in insufficient fight vs. Bayern Munich

TL;DR

Bayer Leverkusen's Simon Rolfes expressed disappointment after their 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal semifinal, noting they could have put up a stronger fight. Despite dominating possession at times, Leverkusen struggled to challenge Bayern effectively throughout the match.

Key points

Simon Rolfes disappointed with Leverkusen's fight against Bayern
Bayern Munich won 2-0 in the DFB-Pokal semifinal
Leverkusen had a brief period of better performance in the second half

Mentioned in this story

Bayer 04 LeverkusenBayern MunichSimon RolfesLuis DíazMark Flekken

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - APRIL 4: Sport director Simon Rolfes of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks on ahead of the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg at BayArena on April 4, 2026 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto/Getty Images) | Getty Images Bayern Munich’s 2-0 DFB-Pokal semifinal victory over Bayer Leverkusen saw a nervous end as the Bavarians sat back, protecting their slender one goal advantage while Leverkusen hogged the ball and kept it for large stretches in the Bundesliga champion’s half, all before Luis Díaz finally sealed the victory in added time. But before that last phase of the match, Bayern had totally outclassed their national rivals. They dominated the shot count, possession stats, duels won and more as they peppered the Leverkusen goal. If it were not for opposition goalkeeper Mark Flekken, the Bavarians could have been miles ahead by half time. That is what Leverkusen’s managing director of sport, Simon Rolfes had real issues with (as captured by Bayern’s official website). “They deserved to win, no question, but we could’ve made it harder for them. We had a period in the second half – just after the break – in which we did better and engaged them in more duels. That also unsettled them a bit. We didn’t do that enough, though, so the win is deserved,” said Rolfes. When the critique is that most of everything is missing outside of one period in the second half, one can infer the team did not do well. Nor did they. Two years after they totally dominated German football, they can now only watch as Bayern travel to Berlin to do the same this year. *If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on , , , or any leading podcast distributor…*

Q&A

What did Simon Rolfes say about Bayer Leverkusen's performance against Bayern Munich?

Simon Rolfes acknowledged that while Bayern deserved to win, Leverkusen could have made it harder for them, especially during a brief period in the second half.

How did Bayern Munich perform in the DFB-Pokal semifinal against Bayer Leverkusen?

Bayern Munich dominated the match, outclassing Leverkusen in shots, possession, and duels, ultimately winning 2-0.

What were the key moments in the Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich match?

Key moments included Bayern's early dominance and a late goal by Luis Díaz that sealed their victory in added time.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Simon Rolfes disappointed in insufficient fight vs. Bayern Munich

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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