DFB Cup review, Round of 16: Captain Kai leads the way

Round of 16, 05.02.2020: Bayer 04 v VfB Stuttgart 2-1 (0-0)

The Werkself faced VfB Stuttgart in the Round of 16. The Swabians were in the second division at the time but they definitely had Bundesliga quality on the pitch with experienced players like former Bayer 04 player Gonzalo Castro and Daniel Didavi. "We will probably have to work hard for a good result," said Werkself coach Peter Bosz ahead of the tie and he proved to be right with the later events on the pitch. The favourites definitely had to invest a lot of effort and keep their nerves at the end to keep the competitive VfB team at arm's length.

Kai Havertz was suitably relieved after the close encounter, with Bayer 04 scoring three offside goals and Stuttgart's Mateo Klimowicz missing the chance to level late on to take the game into extra time when he was clean through. Mateo's father, Diego Klimowicz, who played for VfL Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund and VfL Bochum between 2002 and 2010 scoring 97 goals in 213 Bundesliga matches, would probably not have let that chance escape. Havertz, who led the Werkself out onto the pitch as captain for the first time at the age of just 20 years and 11 months, said after the match: "We’re very happy we’re through to the next round and we definitely didn't play our best football. VfB hurt us with several counter-attacks and they created some good chances."

The lead for the Werkself, with winter signing Exequiel Palacios making his debut, required a lot of patience and even more luck from a set piece when VfB keeper Bredlow punched a corner into his own net (71'). Lucas Alario doubled the lead with an unusual looping shot (83'), before the visitors pulled a goal back through Wamangitukas (85') to make the final minutes exciting.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser, S. Bender (Tah 46'), Dragovic, Sinkgraven (Wendell 85') – Demirbay, Palacios – Bellarabi, Havertz, Diaby (Amiri 67') – Alario

VfB Stuttgart: Bredlow – Stenzel, Phillips, Castro – Massimo (Mola 58’), Mangala, Endo, Förster (Egloff 79’) – Wamangituka, Didavi (Klimowicz 67’) – Gonzalez

Goals: 1-0 Bredlow (o.g. 71’), 2-0 Alario (83’), 2-1 Wamangituka (85’)

Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (Langenhagen)

Booked: Weiser, Hradecky – Castro

Attendance: 20,320