Upcoming cup highlight for Elversberg: outsiders against defending champions Leverkusen

The differences could hardly be any greater: SV Elversberg are playing reigning German champions and cup winners Bayer Leverkusen in a DFB Cup match today. The goal is clear: put in the best possible performance. 

Three days after their exciting second-division duel against Hamburger SV, SV Elversberg’s next highlight awaits: on Tuesday, coach Horst Steffen’s team faces none other than defending champion and Bundesliga team Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the second round of the DFB Cup. The kick-off in the BayArena is at 6 p.m.

SVE‘s previous sensation remains fresh in the memory: around two years ago, Elversberg managed a surprise cup defeat of Leverkusen (who were the favourites at the time). However, this promises to be somewhat different: at the time, Gerardo Seoane was still the coach and Leverkusen were still far from becoming German champions – and SVE were still in the Regionalliga. ‘We are much better than we were then, but it is clear to all that Leverkusen have also improved. Both teams are playing at another level, so it will be a completely different game – especially as it was Leverkusen’s season opener and we had already gained some match experience’, Steffen says. ‘We will be the underdog, just as we were in our last game.’

We are heading to Leverkusen and want to put in our best performance on the pitch so as to grab any small opportunities that come along.

Horst Steffen

Despite the clear challenge, SVE’s coach is optimistic about the game. ‘We are heading to Leverkusen and want to put in our best performance on the pitch so as to grab any small opportunities that come along’, Steffen explains. ‘It is a challenge for all of us. We have not yet been to Leverkusen, but we will take advantage of this first trip to show what we can do. We are always seeking to convey this to the world and put in the best possible performance – and we will see what result we can achieve.’ However, Elversberg will still be missing a few players with long-term injuries for the match, and Robin Fellhauer (ankle issue) still remains in question.

Leverkusen also have not forgotten the 3:4 score. Bayer’s coach Xabi Alonso emphasises the importance of not being taken by surprise this time around: ‘We are playing at home, it is a final. We are ready for it.’ The majority of the team who were playing then will be back for the repeat match – at least at SVE. Alonso considers himself suitably forewarned and describes Elversberg as a ‘good team’ that he respects. ‘We need to play in our style and be ready’, the coach says about SVE, who will be the best second-division team that Leverkusen have faced in their last five days of play. 

After two draws in Brest and Bremen, Leverkusen – who have a nine-game unbeaten streak – will be seeking to keep up momentum in their championship form. ‘We can play even better. That is our challenge for the next few weeks. But we will be treating Elversberg with the same respect as our last opponents’, Alonso emphasises, whilst also not ruling out rotating his line-up.