Xabi Alonso admitted Bayer Leverkusen were not at their best as they dramatically avoided a DFB Pokal upset from second-tier Cologne.

Xabi Alonso is set to make up to four changes when his Bayer Leverkusen side host local rivals FC Köln at the BayArena in Wednesday’s DFB Pokal quarter-final.After making his return to the

Xabi Alonso's side recovered from 2-0 down with Patrik Schick's last-gasp equaliser forcing extra-time, where Victor Boniface decided the tie at BayArena.

Bayer Leverkusen's DFB-Pokal title defence appeared under threat at 2-0 down against second-tier Koln, but they were not to be denied.

Domestic cups often feel like an afterthought, but not in Germany, where Leverkusen and Cologne put on an electric show in the DFB-Pokal quarterfinals.

Bayer Leverkusen staged a dramatic comeback to overcome 1. FC Koln 3-2 in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals, securing their place in the semi-finals with a last-gasp victory.