That's what makes a top team

Yesterday evening, the BayArena was the setting for a breathtaking football spectacle. The quarter-final match in the DFB Cup between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart offered everything a footballer's heart desires: excitement right up to the last minute, a rollercoaster of emotions and an ending that left us in ecstasy.

The match began with an early shock for the hosts when Waldemar Anton put VfB ahead in the 11th minute. However, the Werkself did not let this get them down and started an impressive comeback. Although they initially failed to create any major chances of their own, the team kept up the pressure.

After the break, Bayer showed their best side. Robert Andrich's fantastic long-range shot in the 49th minute had the fans cheering and brought the Werkself back into the game. Stuttgart countered with a goal from Chris Führich, but Leverkusen's reply was not long in coming. Amine Adli, who had just come on as a substitute, scored a deserved equaliser in the 67th minute.

Just as everyone was bracing themselves for extra time, the moment that will go down in Bayer 04's history books arrived: In the 90th minute, Jonathan Tah scored with his head to make it 3:2 and secure his team's place in the semi-finals. The BayArena was transformed into a sea of cheers and black and red colours as the captain created this unforgettable moment.

After the game, Xabi Alonso praised the opponents and emphasised that the victory was won with heart and soul. The players, especially Andrich and Adli, spoke of pride and the conviction that they deserved to leave the pitch as the better team.

The press celebrated the game as a "spectacle with announcement". The Rheinische Post and the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger praised the Werkself's performance, while the Süddeutsche Zeitung described Tah's late goal as "cries of joy into the night".

After this triumphant evening, the Werkself now turn their attention to the upcoming Bundesliga top match against Bayern Munich. With the tailwind from this emotional victory and the support of the vociferous fans in the BayArena, Bayer 04 will certainly approach this game with passion and determination.

Last night in the BayArena was an impressive testimony to the strength and unwavering will of Bayer 04, a game that will live long in the memory for both the players and the fans. With heart, soul and tireless fighting spirit, the Werkself proved that they are rightly in the top ranks of German football.