Bayer 04 Leverkusen produced a ruthless attacking display to beat 1. FC Nürnberg 5-2 at the BayArena and advance in the DFB Pokal. The Bundesliga side scored five times in a thrilling cup tie, surviving a brief Nürnberg fightback before pulling clear in the second half.

Match overview

Leverkusen started brightly and took the lead inside the opening ten minutes through Patrik Schick, who headed home from a precise cross. Nürnberg responded well and equalised midway through the first half, but Leverkusen restored their advantage before the break. A stunning free-kick from Alejandro Grimaldo and a composed finish from Florian Wirtz gave the home side a 3-1 lead at half-time.

Nürnberg refused to go away. They pulled a goal back early in the second half with a quick counter-attack, briefly raising hopes of a comeback. But Leverkusen’s quality told in the final half-hour. Victor Boniface scored the fourth, and Schick added his second late on to complete a convincing scoreline. The cup tie was open and entertaining, but Leverkusen’s finishing was the difference.

Key moments

• 8th minute – Leverkusen 1-0: Schick connected with a whipped cross and powered a header beyond the goalkeeper.
• 21st minute – Nürnberg 1-1: The visitors equalised from a set piece, with a close-range finish after the initial delivery was not cleared.
• 31st minute – Leverkusen 2-1: Grimaldo curled a free-kick over the wall and into the top corner.
• 44th minute – Leverkusen 3-1: Wirtz exchanged passes on the edge of the box before finishing low into the corner.
• 57th minute – Nürnberg 3-2: A fast break caught Leverkusen exposed, and the visitors scored with a tidy finish.
• 68th minute – Leverkusen 4-2: Boniface held off a defender and drilled a shot into the bottom corner.
• 84th minute – Leverkusen 5-2: Schick tapped in his second of the night after a low ball across the six-yard box.

Tactical story

Leverkusen controlled the game through quick ball circulation and aggressive full-back overlaps. Their midfield constantly found pockets of space between Nürnberg’s lines, and the front players made intelligent runs to stretch the defence. The set-piece threat was also evident, with Grimaldo’s free-kick a moment of real quality.

Nürnberg’s plan was to defend deep and counter at speed. It worked in patches, especially for their second goal, but they struggled to cope with Leverkusen’s movement for long periods. The visitors left too much space in wide areas, and Leverkusen punished them with crosses and cut-backs. Once the home side restored their two-goal cushion at 4-2, the tie was effectively over.

Standout players

Schick was the focal point of Leverkusen’s attack, scoring twice and occupying both centre-backs. Wirtz was at the heart of most good things, creating chances and scoring a well-taken goal. Grimaldo’s free-kick was the moment of the match, while Boniface made an impact from the bench. For Nürnberg, the forwards worked hard and took their goals well, but the defence could not withstand sustained pressure.

What the result means

Leverkusen move into the next round of the DFB Pokal with confidence and a reminder of their attacking depth. The five-goal performance will please the coaching staff, even if the two conceded goals give them something to work on. Nürnberg exit the competition but can take encouragement from their fighting spirit and their two goals away from home. For Leverkusen, the cup run remains alive and the prospect of a deep run is clear.