Granit Xhaka scored a trademark screamer to fire Bayer Leverkusen to a historic double to complete an incredible season.
Leverkusen have added DFB-Pokal glory to their maiden Bundesliga title just days after their Europa League heartbreak.
Xabi Alonso’s side were well-beaten 3-0 by Atalanta on Wednesday night to see their incredible 51-game unbeaten run come to an end.
Leverkusen stormed the German top-flight title and did so unbeaten, but were unable to win a European trophy as part of their treble dream.
Attention quickly turned to securing a domestic double, where they have beaten second-tier outfit Kaiserslautern 1-0 at the Olympiastadion Berlin.
And they got off to the perfect start when former Arsenal midfielder Xhaka curled in an excellent effort from range in the 17th minute.
His goal comes exactly eight years to the day in which he signed for the Gunners, who he helped win two FA Cups.
The Swiss international capitalised on a loose ball around 30 yards from goal, where he curled an excellent first-time finish into the top left corner.
It was exactly what Alonso would have been hoping for, with the Spaniard spotted jumping for joy on the sidelines.
But he was later left with his head in his hands at the end of the half after his side were reduced to ten men.
Centre-back Odilon Kossounou received his marching orders in the 44th minute for two bookable offences.
Both teams pushed for a goal in the second half, but it was to no avail, with Xhaka’s long-range stunner proving to be the difference.
It is Leverkusen’s first double in their history – and first German Cup success since 1993.
