On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Bayer Leverkusen will host FC Bayern Munich in the first leg of the DFB-Pokal semifinals at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany. Kickoff is scheduled for 20:45 CEST.
The match will be broadcast live on free-to-air television in Germany by ZDF, which will also stream the game via its Mediathek platform. Pay-TV broadcaster Sky will also carry the match live as part of its regular coverage.
For audio commentary, fans can tune into the ARD Inforadio stations or follow the match through the Sportschau app, which provides live radio updates.
According to historical data from the DFB-Pokal, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen have met eight times previously in the competition. Bayern has won six of those encounters, while Leverkusen has secured two victories.
The most recent meeting between the two sides in the DFB-Pokal occurred in December 2024, when Leverkusen defeated Bayern 1-0 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. That result came after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer received a red card in the 17th minute, with Nathan Tella scoring the winning goal for Leverkusen.
Leverkusen’s victory in December 2024 marked their most recent win over Bayern in any competition prior to this semifinal clash.
In the broader history of the DFB-Pokal, Bayern Munich holds the record for most titles with 20 victories. Bayer Leverkusen has reached the final on five occasions, winning the trophy in 1993 and most recently in 2024, when they defeated Kaiserslautern 1-0 to complete the domestic double.
The second semifinal of the 2025-2026 DFB-Pokal will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2026, featuring defending champions VfB Stuttgart hosting SC Freiburg at 20:45 CEST. That match will be broadcast on ARD and Sky.
This year’s semifinal round marks the first time since the 2022-2023 season that all four remaining teams in the DFB-Pokal are from the Bundesliga, highlighting the strength of Germany’s top flight in the competition.
As the match approaches, both clubs are expected to announce their starting lineups approximately one hour before kickoff, followed by live build-up coverage on the broadcasters’ platforms.
For fans unable to watch the match live, full match replays and highlights will be available on ZDF Mediathek and Sky’s on-demand services following the conclusion of the game.
What are your predictions for the Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich DFB-Pokal semifinal? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let us understand how you plan to follow the match.
