Dortmund Host Leverkusen in DFB-Pokal Tie to Decide Quarter-Final Place

Overview

• Kickoff is Tuesday evening in Dortmund, where the single-elimination match will determine who advances to the quarter-finals.
• Borussia Dortmund enter with momentum from Saturday’s 2-1 league win that lifted them above Leverkusen into third place.
• Niko Kovac reports all weekend starters are fit, Salih Özcan has recovered from illness, and Maximilian Beier will face a final fitness test, with Niklas Süle out due to a toe issue.
• Kovac highlighted Bayer’s 63% possession in the league clash and stressed that transitions, chance creation, and finishing will be decisive.
• This is the clubs’ first-ever DFB-Pokal meeting, a rare home cup tie for Dortmund after mostly away draws in recent seasons, with both teams having endured demanding routes to this round.