Algerian serves hot vengeance on Dortmund and sends Lever to Cup quarter-finals
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 03.12.25. | 07:32
Bayer lost to Borussia in the Bundesliga last Saturday and apparently looked forward to taking revenge just three days later
The famous quote claims that vengeance is a dish best served cold. However, Bayer Leverkusen couldn't wait too long. After losing the Bundesliga clash to Borussia Dortmund at BayArena 2-1 last Saturday, Kasper Hjulmand's men took quick revenge on the BVB just three days later at Signal Iduna Park, knocking them out of the German Cup (DFB Pokal) and progressing to the quarter-finals - 1-0!
Leverkusen KNOCK Dortmund out of the DFB Pokal 🟡👋 pic.twitter.com/iP1W7jqU8f
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) December 2, 2025
Even though Niko Kovac's team deserved more, unlike in the previous duel, luck wasn't on their side. The moment of truth arrived in the 34th minute, when the 20-year-old Algerian Ibrahim Maza seized the chance and scored the winner, worthy of advancing to the next round.
Paradoxically, Dortmund played better last night than during the weekend clash, but this time, the outcome wasn't in their favour.
The teams combined for as many as 15 shots in the first half, and the home crew had twice as many as their opponents (10-5), but still, only one effort went on target - the one that put Leverkusen in front!
Hjulmand's crew organized a nice attack from the back, exploited confusion in BVB's defence, and seized the chance, breaking the deadlock over the Algerian Ibrahim Maza.
1-0 Bayer Leverkusen.
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) December 2, 2025
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL IBRAHIM MAZA !!!!!!!!!!!! HE PUTS THEM AHEAD VS BORUSSIA DORTMUND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/fTCwYa1x92
After the break, Dortmund kept pressing the rivals, but the visitors once again scored first, through Martin Terrier at the hour mark. The goal did not stand due to offside, but it sent a clear message to Kovac that he had to change something.
Hence, the Croat subbed on his most lethal offensive firepower, Serhou Guirassy, Julian Brandt, and Maximilian Beier, but the trio brought no significant improvement.
Borussia wasted their best chances to level in the final quarter of an hour, when two defenders, Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck, attempted but couldn't get the ball past Mark Flekken.
In the end, Dortmund finished the game with 20 shots, of which only four went on target, and with such a lack of efficiency, they couldn't win.
On the other hand, Lever played a rather lackluster match, but were fortunate to score the winner from their only opportunity. They got back the luck that went against them on Saturday and advanced to the Cup quarter-finals, where they joined Hertha, St. Pauli, and RB Leipzig. The remaining for participants will be known after four clashes scheduled for tonight.
GERMAN CUP - DFB POKAL
Round of 16
Tuesday
Hertha - Kaiserslautern 6-1 (3-1)
/Schuler 5, 60, Winkler 20, Eichhorn 31, Kownacki 75, Krattenmacher 80 - Ritter/
Monchengladbach - St. Pauli 1-2 (0-1)
/Tabakovic 56 - Kaars 43, Oppie 83/
Dortmund - Leverkusen 0-1 (0-1)
/Maza 34/
RB Leipzig - Magdeburg 3-1 (2-1)
/Nusa 19, Baumgartner 29, 54 - Gnaka 11 pen/
Wednesday
20.00: (7.75) Bochum (4.80) Stuttgart (1.40)
20.00: (1.63) Freiburg (4.20) Darmstadt (5.00)
22.45: (1.75) Hamburger (4.10) Holstein Kiel (4.25)
22.45: (9.00) Union Berlin (5.80) Bayern (1.30)
***odds are subject to change***
