Bayer Leverkusen had to work hard to qualify for the round of 16 of the German Cup by defeating Sandhausen 5-2 on Wednesday evening on the lawn of the 3rd division resident.
Xabi Alonso’s men led the score through Exequiel Palacios (21st) and Jonathan Tah (54th), but Sandhausen equalized through Christoph Erlich (50th) and Yassin Ben Balla (57th).
Adam Hlozek allowed Leverkusen to take control for a third time in the 85th minute, before Amine Adli, who had caused the penalty converted by Palacios, scored twice at the end of the match (88th and 90th 2).
Leader of the Bundesliga after nine days, Bayer Leverkusen signed their 13th victory in 14 official matches this season (a league draw in Munich against Bayern).
At the Westfalenstadion, three days before hosting Bayern for the “Klassiker” of German football, Borussia Dortmund dominated Hoffenheim, sixth in the Bundesliga. Edin Terzic’s men won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Marco Reus in the 43rd minute.
In the evening, Bayern travels to Saarbrück (3rd division), with kick-off at 8:45 p.m. in Saarland (southwest of Germany).