Bayer Leverkusen and FC Bayern München meet at BayArena in the DFB-Pokal 25/26 semifinals. The stakes are simple: win and you are one step from silverware. The lineups are not confirmed at the time of writing, but the numbers already tell a lively story.

Form and numbers that matter

Leverkusen have looked balanced across this cup run. They have scored 12 and conceded only 2 in four matches, with 3 clean sheets. A 59% average possession and 88.7% pass accuracy point to controlled buildup, while 29 shots on target from 63 attempts show steady output.

Bayern bring volume and menace. They also have 12 goals in four, with 37 shots on target from 56 efforts and 24 big chances created. There is a flip side. Bayern’s crossing accuracy sits at 23.5% and they have missed 15 big chances, so the final touch has room for polish. Their team average Sofascore Rating is 6.90, compared to Leverkusen’s 7.26.

Key players by Sofascore Rating

– Harry Kane leads the cup scoring for Bayern with 6 goals in 4 matches, hitting the target 15 times from 20 shots and scoring every 59.5 minutes. He has converted 2 of 3 penalties.
– Joshua Kimmich is the passing and chance-creation hub. He has 301 accurate passes at 89% and a team-high 4 big chances created, plus 2 assists.
– Michael Olise adds punch between the lines with 2 goals, 1 assist and 12 successful dribbles.
– Luis Díaz has 2 goals and 1 assist with 9 shots on target. He also leads Bayern with 7 key passes but has 6 big chances missed, a number he will want to tidy up.
– At the back, Dayot Upamecano has 13 tackles and 5 interceptions, while Jonathan Tah leads Bayern’s clearances with 23.

Projected setups and matchups

Leverkusen are listed in a 3-4-2-1, with Mark Flekken in goal and a back line featuring Jarell Quansah, Loïc Badé and Edmond Tapsoba. The midfield mix of Exequiel Palacios and Aleix García suggests control and smart distribution, with Alejandro Grimaldo offering his usual attacking width. Up top, Patrik Schick is the focal point, supported by Ibrahim Maza and Nathan Tella.

Bayern are listed in a 4-2-3-1, with Manuel Neuer behind a defense of Josip Stanišić, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Konrad Laimer. Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović anchor midfield, with Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Luis Díaz supplying Harry Kane. The central duel between Kimmich and Palacios looks pivotal, and Kane’s movement will test a Leverkusen defense that has allowed only 15 shots on target across the cup campaign.