BERLIN: Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich kept their hopes alive after a dominant 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday to lift the German Cup for a record-running 20th time.
As Hansi Flick, who took over as interim boss when they sacked Niko Kovac in November, repaid the confidence of the Bavarian club in him by winning his first final as permanent manager, Reuters said, Bayern sealed their 13th domestic double.
In the 16th minute, David Alaba gave Bayern the lead with a free kick after Robert Lewandowski was fouled at the edge of the net, with the defender's effort sailing over the wall and beating Lukas Hradecky's outstretched arm in goal.
Bayern doubled the lead when Joshua Kimmich released Serge Gnabry down the right channel and the unchallenged shot of the winger nestled in the bottom corner for the 24-year-old 's season's 20th goal in all competitions.
Lewandowski then pounced on the long ball of Manuel Neuer and fumbled a thunderous strike from range at Hradecky and the Finnish goalkeeper, allowing the ball to crawl across the line to give the Polish striker his fiftieth season goal.
Leverkusen opened their account when Sven Bender headed home from a corner kick at the far post but it was too little, too late as Lewandowski scored a second from Ivan Perisic's cutback with a chip over the keeper in the 89th minute.
There was late drama when VAR in stoppage time spotted a handball in the box to award Leverkusen a penalty. The consolation strike from Kai Havertz into the top corner proved to be the final kick of the game as Bayern defended its title.
(With Agency inputs)
