Bayer 04 in Round of 16 after 4-2 DFB Pokal thriller in Paderborn

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand made four changes to his team for the DFB Pokal tie against the second division side compared with the 2-0 win against SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga. Jeanuel Belocian replaced Jarell Quansah in a three-man defence, while Robert Andrich came in for the injured Ezequiel Fernández in holding midfield. Eliesse Ben Seghir started in attacking midfield in place of Ernest Poku and Christian Kofane made way for Patrik Schick as he returned to the starting XI.

Werkself try usual approach, SCP battle

SC Paderborn side had the best first two chances of the match with a header from Felix Götze on eleven minutes and a long-range effort from Lucas Copado on 14 minutes. However, the Werkself held out and then took control of the game. With almost 70 per cent possession, Bayer 04 tried to pose a threat with their build-up play. However, Paderborn were compact and defended well. Then Jonas Hofmann had a volley on goal for the Black and Reds but aimed too high (36'). It remained Bayer 04's first and last good opportunity of the half but Leverkusen did not give anything away at the other end before the break, apart from a cross from Raphael Obermair (40') and a header from Luis Engels (44'). The teams went into the half-time all square at 0-0.

Paderborn level late after magic Grimaldo free kick

With Ernest Poku and Christian Kofane brought on, the Werkself immediately developed a more attacking approach. The latter substitute in particular made an immediate impact. First, a Kofane shot on the turn went over the Paderborn goal (52'). Just six minutes later the Cameroonian was put through by Andrich and he could only be stopped by a foul by Götze as the last man. That not only meant that Bayer 04 had an extra man but also a promising free-kick position for Alejandro Grimaldo. And the Spaniard did not disappoint, scoring with an irresistible shot to give Leverkusen a 1-0 lead (60').

With the extra player, the Werkself now increasingly dominated proceedings, with another Hofmann shot fizzing over the goal (68'). Nevertheless, SCP looked to get forward again and forced Andrich into an impressive intervention in his own penalty area (74'). The Werkself were back in control after that, but had to concede an equaliser in a heated final phase shortly before the final whistle through a header from Paderborn's Stefano Marino (90'). Bayer 04 almost netted the winner in stoppage time, but substitute Ibrahim Maza and Andrich narrowly failed to score. The game went into extra time.

Maza and Garcia put werkself in round of 16

And it also got off to the worst possible start for the Black and Reds. Mark Flekken made an impressive save to deny Steffen Tigges, but in the ensuing confusion, Sven Michel scored to make it 2-1 for the home side (96'). Kofane almost had the direct response but headed over the target (99'). The Werkself continued to press - and were finally rewarded for their efforts. Poku played a Maza cross back to substitute Jarell Quansah and he put the ball into the empty net to make it 2-2 at the break (105+1’).

Hjulmand's team now stormed Paderborn's goal with all they had left. However, SCP goalkeeper Markus Schubert kept the hosts in the game, first keeping out Maza (106') and Grimaldo twice (113', 117'). But the pressure from the Werkself became too much: Maza once again used all his technique to get through in the penalty area and scored late to make it 3-2 (120+2’). The fact the Paderborn keeper Schubert came up for their final attack was punished by Garcia at the end of the ensuing Leverkusen counter-attack as tucked the ball into the empty net for the final score of 4-2 (120+3’). Bayer 04 through to the Round of 16!

coming up: Bayern munich then Benfica

The Werkself have two big games coming up. First, Leverkusen travel to Bayern Munich on Saturday, 1 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET) for the Bundesliga top match. Four days later, Bayer 04 will be in Portugal. Benfica await in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, 5 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET).

Match stats:

SC Paderborn 07: Schubert - Hansen (Marino 73’), Götze, Scheller - Curda, Baur, Engelns (Michel 83’), Obermair - Copado (Tigges 73’), Bilbija (Bätzner 73’), Wörner (Sticker 61’)

Bayer 04: Flekken - Tapsoba, Badé, Belocian (Quansah 66’) - Arthur (Terrier 66’), Andrich, Garcia, Grimaldo - Hofmann (Maza 83’), Ben Seghir (Poku 46’) - Schick (Kofane 46’)

Goals: 0-1 Grimaldo (60'), 1-1 Marino (90'), 2-1 Michel (96'), 2-2 Quansah (105+1’), 2-3 Maza (120+2’), 2-4 Garcia (120+3’)

Yellow cards: Obermair, Marino, Baur - Garcia, Andrich

Red card: Götze

Referee: Patrick Ittrich (Hamburg)

Attendance: 15,000 (sold out) at the Home Deluxe Arena