Play the fourth endgame

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Captain Lukas Hradecky will be in goal for Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Cup final against second division side 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday (8 p.m./ARD and Sky). “Lukas will play tomorrow,” said coach Xabi Alonso, breaking his rule that regular substitute goalkeeper Matej Kovar is allowed to play in all cup matches. “We played in two finals, both were ready and we both wanted the chance to play in a final,” Alonso said. Kovar was in goal in Wednesday’s 3-0 Europa League final defeat to Atalanta Bergamo, but was not responsible for the goals conceded.

Hradecky, 34, has made 34 appearances this season, in which he has kept 16 clean sheets. With 15 clean sheets, he has the best record in the Bundesliga. Hradecky was very happy to have been nominated for the cup final: “I found out about it a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised. Some friends and family come from Finland, so I’m very happy, » he said. « Matej did a great job, I’m very happy to have such a colleague. »

Hradecky is a cup specialist and reached the final once with Bayer and twice with Eintracht Frankfurt. In 2018, he celebrated his title with the SGE. “I’ve been in Germany for nine years and I’m in the final for the fourth time. “It’s a privilege,” he said. His team had to make up for Wednesday’s disappointment and had to be warned about the second division team: “On Wednesday we were also slight favorites. We must be careful not to fall into the same trap.