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Bayer Leverkusen, under Xabi Alonso, began their DFB-Pokal defence with a narrow 1-0 win against Carl Zeiss Jena, now playing in the Regionalliga.
The decisive moment came from a 52nd-minute header by Jonas Hofmann, following a precise cross from Alejandro Grimaldo.
Both Leverkusen and Stuttgart, who had previously postponed their first-round matches due to the German Super Cup, overcame their initial hurdles this week with wins.
Leverkusen's victory, however, wasn't secured easily.
It took a well-placed header from Hofmann to break the deadlock, showcasing Grimaldo's growing influence since his introduction at half-time.
Grimaldo's cross proved crucial, and Hofmann's header was the only goal of the match.
Despite Jena's late attempts to equalise, they could not find the back of the net.
This victory marks Leverkusen's third win of the season, following their Super Cup triumph and a Bundesliga opening day win.
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