Back
19.07.2020DFB-Pokal

DFB Cup review, Semi-final: Demirbay directs

The route to the fourth DFB Cup final in the history of Bayer 04 started and ended with a tie against a big club and a former Bundesliga side that was in the Regional League last season. In between, the Werkself played three cup games at the BayArena. We look back at the stops en route to #B04RLIN...

Semi-final, 09.06.2020: FC Saarbrücken v Bayer 04 0-3 (0-2)

The semi-final draw took the Werkself to Völklingen in Saarland, where FC Saarbrücken, whose Ludwigspark Stadium is undergoing reconstruction, had overcome clear favourites in previous rounds. Second division outfits Jahn Regensburg and Karlsruher SC as well as two Bundesliga teams from the Rhineland, Fortuna Düsseldorf and FC Köln, saw their cup ambitions disappear under the pale floodlights at the Hermann Neuberger Stadium. Saarbrücken were champions of the cancelled Regional League season and thereby promoted to the third division but there were concerns that the Werkself could underestimate their opponents in the first DFB Cup tie played behind closed doors. But not Peter Bosz: “It’s all about getting to the final. All of us know what’s at stake!”

Bayer 04 approached the game in a professional frame of mind: serious, focussed, confident on the ball and determined to score. Moussa Diaby (11’) and Lucas Alario (19’) silenced the hosts with goals early on and Karim Bellarabi sealed victory on the hour mark with a third goal.

“Every player dreams of playing in the final of a competition. We’re proud and over the moon,” said Kerem Demirbay, who provided all three assists. At the same time, Fernando Carro, with the players singing the traditional ‘Berlin, Berlin, we’re off to Berlin!’, was already looking forward to 4 July just like Peter Bosz. “It’s a great win and the chance of a title,” said the chairman of the board and the Werkself coach declared: “You play to win in a final. That will be the next mission.”

Match stats:

FC Saarbrücken: Batz – Jänicke (Froese 46’), Schorch (Bulic 87’), Zeitz, Uaferra, Barylla – Perdedaj (Breitenbach 68’), Zellner, Golley, Müller (Mendler 68’) – Jacob (Eisele 78’)

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser, Tapsoba (Tah 46’), S. Bender (Dragovic 62’), Wendell – Aránguiz (Palacios 70’), Demirbay – Wirtz (Bellarabi 46’), Paulinho, Diaby (Volland 62’) – Alario

Goals: 0-1 Diaby (11’), 0-2 Alario (19’), 0-3 Bellarabi (58’)

Referee: Guido Winkmann (Kerken)

Booked: Tapsoba

Attendance: Played behind closed doors

2020609_FC_Saarbruecken_gegen_B04.jpg

Related News

Gegner-Check
eSports - 16.12.2025

#B04eSports: The battle for top 16 in Showdown three continues

Today, Tuesday 16 December (live on B04eSports Twitch channel from 18:00 CET), the Leverkusen eSports players face the final three matches of the online preliminary round of Showdown Three in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. In addition to 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and SV 07 Elversberg, they will play Fortuna Düsseldorf, who are still unbeaten in this third showdown. The lowdown on our next opponents.

Show more
Jahresrückblick 2025 aus dem Bayer 04-Club
Club - 14.12.2025

Exclusive moments, away trips and a milestone: The Bayer 04 Club end-of-year review

Whether it's the Lions Club, Teens, Bayer 04 Club or Silver Lions - there was a lot going on again this year in all age-specific members' clubs. We look back on an eventful year with numerous events and many exclusive moments with the Werkself. We take a look at what the year 2025 had to offer for the members of the Bayer 04 Club...

Show more
Terrier und Co. feiern Sieg
Bundesliga - 14.12.2025

Werkself review #B04KOE: Derby win through patience, dominance and a "magic moment"

Coaches, team-mates, fans, commentators, the media - they were all amazed when Martin Terrier unleashed his scorpion kick against 1. FC Köln at the BayArena and skilfully put the Werkself ahead after 66 minutes on Bundesliga matchday 14. The Frenchman chose the perfect moment to score what he described as the "best goal of my career". After all, it was his goal that paved the way for the derby victory. The Werkself review.

Show more
Traumtor Terrier Jubel
Bundesliga - 13.12.2025

2-0 against FC Köln - Terrier wonder goal paves way to derby victory

Bayer 04 picked up three points in the last home game of the year with 2-0 win against 1. FC Köln on matchday 14. After a dominant first half with good chances, Martin Terrier, who came on as a substitute in the second half, produced a brilliant scorpion kick to make to 1-0 for the Werkself (66') before captain Robert Andrich rounded off the derby victory with a header six minutes later.

Show more