Bayern-Schreck hopes for a huge windfall
Six first division teams, eight second division teams, plus Homburg and Saarbrücken: The cup round of 16 is also a meeting of underdogs. For small clubs, even one more win would have a huge financial impact. Only the hosts of the final are no longer dreaming.
The record cup winners out, the defending champions gone: without FC Bayern and RB Leipzig, the DFB Cup could become a cup of surprise teams this year. In addition to the new top favorites Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, the Bundesliga mid-table teams Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg are now sensing their chance of a major coup. The dream of a final in Berlin is also alive at eight second division venues ahead of the round of 16 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The last time there was a cup final without Munich or Leipzig was six and a half years ago. BVB, who play VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday (20:45/ZDF and Sky and in the live ticker at ntv.de) and Leverkusen in particular are aware of their opportunity. "Of course we'll see what the others do, and if Bayern get knocked out, we won't mind," said Leverkusen's head of sport Simon Rolfes. "But in the end, you have to win your own games." The Bundesliga leaders are clear favorites against SC Paderborn (Wednesday 18:00/Sky and in the live ticker at ntv.de).
Only six Bundesliga clubs left
It's not just the absence of Bayern and Leipzig that makes the competition unusually attractive for the remaining clubs in terms of sporting appeal and chances. Only six of the 16 round of 16 finalists are from the Bundesliga. Because there are two first division duels, a maximum of four of them will reach the next round. There will also be at least three second-division teams in the quarter-finals. So there will definitely be some tough opponents in the next draw.
Reaching the quarter-finals would be hugely important for many clubs, not only in terms of footballing success but also financially. A good 1.7 million euros is available as a bonus for reaching the last eight. In addition, there is the spectator income. The effects would be particularly great for Bayern winners 1. FC Saarbrücken and regional league representatives FC 08 Homburg. "If we win against Frankfurt, that would be a third of our planned budget for this season," said Peter Müller, press spokesman for third-division side Saarbrücken.
The additional money would also create new opportunities for some second division clubs in the coming winter transfer period. "I hope that we can move forward and that the financial leeway will increase a little," said Fortuna Düsseldorf's sporting director Christian Weber ahead of the match at 1. FC Magdeburg (18:00/Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker). "It's not always planned before the season that you'll reach the fourth round. So that would be a bit of extra income."
Dardai no longer dreams of the final
Fortuna, who won the cup in 1979 and 1980, are not the only club whose fans are dreaming of achieving something this year that only one club has managed so far. In 1992, Hannover 96 became the only second division club to win the DFB Cup. "This year, the chances for a second division club are higher than usual. Maybe someone can actually repeat what we achieved back then," said Roman Wojcicki, who was a player at the time.
The longing is particularly great in Berlin. Hertha fans there have long dreamed of their professional team making it to the final in their home Olympic Stadium. Coach Pal Dardai knows that. But his view of his team's chances ahead of the round of 16 against Hamburger SV (Wednesday, 8.45pm/Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker) is emphatically sober: "I've been here for almost 30 years, I've stopped dreaming," he said. "We just work as hard as we can and don't want to promise anything."
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Source: www.ntv.de
