Leverkusen Open DFB-Pokal Title Defense with Hard-Fought Win

Rollercoaster Start to Title Defense

Bayer Leverkusen began their DFB-Pokal title defense with a shaky 4-3 victory over fourth-tier Carl Zeiss Jena.

Leverkusen, the 2021 DFB-Pokal champions, faced a spirited challenge from the lower-league side.

The Bundesliga club ultimately prevailed but looked far from their best, raising questions about their form heading into the new season.

Early Lead and Jena Fightback

Leverkusen took an early lead through Moussa Diaby but found themselves pegged back by two Jena goals.

Patrik Schick restored Leverkusen's advantage, only for Jena to equalize once more through Maximilian Krauß.

Florian Wirtz and Adam Hložek scored late goals to secure the victory for Leverkusen.

Lackluster Performance from Leverkusen

Despite the win, Leverkusen's performance was far from convincing.

The team struggled to create clear-cut chances and looked vulnerable defensively.

Manager Gerardo Seoane will be hoping for a significant improvement when they face Augsburg in their Bundesliga opener on Sunday.

Jena's Courageous Display

While Leverkusen struggled, Jena played with great heart and determination.

The fourth-tier side created several chances and pushed the Bundesliga club to the limit.

Their performance will give them confidence ahead of their upcoming Regionalliga Nordost season.

Upcoming Fixture:

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Augsburg (Bundesliga, August 7th, 2022)