Werkself review #B04F95: Cup dream lives on

Summary: Completely dominant

With three changes to the starting XI and returnees Exequiel Palacios and Victor Boniface on the bench, Bayer 04 immediately imposed their dominant style of play on their visitors from Düsseldorf. Jeremie Frimpong converted that superiority into an early lead after just eight minutes. The Bundesliga leaders maintained their concentration after that, in their defensive work too. An example of this was when Florian Wirtz launched a counter-attack after winning the ball in his own penalty area before supplying Amine Adli, who buried the second goal into the far corner after 20 minutes. Wirtz himself then made it 3-0 in the 36th minute with a fine finish. After around an hour, the VAR spotted a handball in the box by Düsseldorf's Matthias Zimmermann and Wirtz confidently tucked away the subsequent penalty. The Werkself comfortably saw out the rest of the game and deservedly progressed to the final. The full match report

Reaction: "Very serious performance"

After the game, head coach Xabi Alonso spoke of a "very serious performance", adding: "Obviously the first goal was important, it gave us a lot of control. We didn't want a typical frantic cup match." On Wirtz, the Spaniard commented: "He put in a superb performance. We're seeing a very mature Flo in every match, who's there in the important moments and taking responsibility. He really is a top, top player."

Brace scorer Wirtz himself said afterwards: "It's a very good scoreline, but the most important thing is that we've qualified for the final. We're very glad that we can make the people here happy." Jonathan Tah, who led the side as captain in the semi-final, added: "We respected the opposition, not underestimated." And Granit Xhaka declared: "This team only knows 100 percent."

What the papers say: Top marks for Wirtz and Adli

The Bild went with the headline "FINALonso! Leverkusen sweep aside Düsseldorf too and remain unbeaten in 40 games". kicker wrote: "The machine rolls on", adding: "Düsseldorf daring, Leverkusen clinical: Leverkusen completely dominated the game from the start, and short bursts of tempo were enough to put Fortuna in dire straits." The magazine also gave Wirtz the highest rating, as did the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, which awarded the Germany international a 1 - as it did Adli. The Süddeutsche Zeitung, meanwhile, chose the following headline and introduction: "The demon machine: Nimble-footed, with fluid short passing and clearly defined distances, Bayer 04 Leverkusen also dispatch Fortuna Düsseldorf 4-0 - Xabi Alonso reaches his first final as a first-team coach." The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung took a similar view and wrote about "light-footed Leverkusen".

Personnel: First brace for Wirtz and Boniface comeback

Adli's strike against Fortuna means he's now the top scorer in this season's DFB Cup and also has the most goal contributions, with five goals and three assists. Equally pleasing was the return of Victor Boniface after 106 days out injured. The striker was sidelined by an adductor muscle tendon injury in recent months, but has been back training with the team recently and came on for Patrik Schick in the 65th minute against Düsseldorf.

Off the pitch, the fans delivered great support once more. Starting with an impressive tifo which stretched across the whole stadium, the Werkself supporters again loudly cheered on the Werkself over the whole match and made it an unforgettable cup night.

Stats: Dominance reflected in numbers

The stats also underline the Werkself's dominance, with a pass completion rate of 93% (Düsseldorf 82%) and possession of 72%. Leverkusen also won 62% of the duels and fired off 22 shots on goal (Düsseldorf eight).

Incidentally, for Wirtz it was his first brace for the club in his 141st appearance and his first converted penalty in a competitive game.

Up next: First Bundesliga, then Europa League

The fixtures keep coming thick and fast for the Werkself, who visit 1. FC Union Berlin on Matchday 28 of the Bundesliga on Saturday 6 April (kick-off 15:30 CEST). That's followed by the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg at home to West Ham United next week. Kick-off is at 21:00 CEST on Thursday 11 April.