4-0 against Düsseldorf – Superb Werkself celebrate reaching the final of the DFB Pokal

Compared to the 2-1 win against TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, head coach Xabi Alonso made three changes to the starting XI for the DFB Pokal semi-final: Matej Kovar started between the posts, Josip Stanisic replaced Piero Hincapie in the three-man back line and Amine Adli began up front. Jonas Hofmann initially looked on from the bench - as did returnees Exequiel Palacios and Victor Boniface. The latter was back in the matchday squad for the first time in this calendar year.

Early double strike - Wirtz adds a third

In front of an impressive backdrop and to a deafening volume in the sold-out BayArena, the home side took control right from the kick-off and pressed for a quick goal. The first chance came after just five minutes when Alejandro Grimaldo crossed from the left, but both Patrik Schick and Jeremie Frimpong just failed to connect in the centre. Just three minutes later, the Werkself launched their next attempt: Granit Xhaka passed to Schick in the penalty area, who threaded the ball on to Frimpong in a half-right position, and he hammered it under the crossbar with real conviction, giving Bayer 04 an early 1-0 lead. After the opener, the Black and Reds continued to look alert and hungry for more goals, and it didn't take long for captain Jonathan Tah and Co. to add to their tally: After winning the ball impressively in their own penalty area, the hosts broke free from their opponents' pressing. Florian Wirtz then launched a counter-attack and fed Amine Adli, who was rushing forward out left. The winger netted with a low finish to make it 2-0 (21') - Adli's fifth goal in the current cup competition. This makes the 23-year-old the top scorer in the current DFB Pokal campaign.

Even after the two goals, the Werkself didn't let up, dominating play and forcing their opponents into making errors, like when F95 keeper Florian Kastenmeier played a ball directly to Robert Andrich's feet. The midfielder fed Adli, who in turn fed teammate Wirtz, and he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom far corner to make it 3-0 (36'). Andre Hofmann then had Düsseldorf's biggest chance shortly before the half-time whistle, but Kovar showed razor-sharp reflexes to save his shot from close range (45'), ensuring Bayer 04 went into the half-time break with a commanding three-goal lead.

WIRTZ WRAPS THINGS UP FROM THE SPOT

Following the restart, F95 first had a good chance through Christos Tzolis, but Kovar was alert to the danger (55'). Leverkusen's reply wasn't long in coming: a cross from Xhaka to Schick, who perfectly timed his run but hit the post with his header (58'). A few moments later, the VAR intervened due to a handball by Matthias Zimmermann in that same situation, and referee Christian Dingert awarded a penalty after reviewing the video footage himself. Wirtz stepped up to the spot and converted to make it 4-0 (60'). There was more good news five minutes later when Boniface came on for Schick, marking the striker's comeback after a long injury lay-off. His last appearance in a Leverkusen jersey was on 20 December last year, and he promptly made his presence felt: The Nigerian powered his way through and found Frimpong, but the Dutchman missed (84'). Overall, the Werkself scaled back their attacking efforts somewhat in the second half, but were no less dominant, meaning Fortuna were unable to create any real threat. The Bayer 04 fans then celebrated their well-earned passage to the DFB Cup final with chants of "Berlin, Berlin, we're going to Berlin!". At 22.35, referee Christian Dingert blew the final whistle, after which there was no holding back a euphoric BayArena!

Outlook: First Berlin, then THE UEFA Europa League

Now it's straight back to business for the Werkself: in three days' time, on Saturday, 6 April, Leverkusen travel to 1. FC Union Berlin in the league. Kick-off at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei is at 15.30 CEST. Next week, Bayer 04 then host West Ham United on Thursday, 11 April in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg. Kick-off is at 21:00 CEST.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Kovar – Stanisic, Tah, Tapsoba – Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka (78' Kossounou), Grimaldo (71' Hincapie) – Wirtz (65' Hofmann), Adli (65' Tella) – Schick (65' Boniface)

Düsseldorf: Kastenmeier – Siebert, Hoffmann (46' Quarshie),  Oberdorf – Zimmermann (85' Vermeij), Engelhardt, Johannesson, Iyoha (76' Jastrzembski) – Klaus (46' Sobottka), Mustapha (65' Niemiec), Tzolis 

Goals: 1-0 Frimpong (8'), 2-0 Adli (20'), 3-0 Wirtz (36'), 4-0 Wirtz (60'/Pen.)

Yellow cards: Tzolis

Referee: Christian Dingert (Lebecksmühle)

Attendance: 30.210 (sold out) at the BayArena