DFB Cup - Saarbrücken knocks out the next Bundesliga team - Leverkusen wins with aplomb
Favourite shocker 1. FC Saarbrücken has landed the next cup coup and, after record champions Bayern Munich, also knocked last year's finalists Eintracht Frankfurt out of the competition. The third-division club beat the Conference League side 2:0 (0:0) in the round of 16 tie on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals for the ninth time in the club's history.
In front of 15,903 spectators in the sold-out Ludwigsparkstadion, Kai Brünker in the 64th minute and Luca Kerber (78th) scored the goals for the underdogs, who will receive a bonus of around 1.7 million euros for advancing. This means that the Saarlanders have already earned more than three million euros in the current competition. The disappointing Eintracht lost not only the game but also Noel Futkeu, who was shown the red card after an assault (83').
Bayer 04 Leverkusen - SC Paderborn
The record-breaking Bayer Leverkusen team have reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup and go into the rest of the competition as favorites. The Bundesliga leaders only had trouble in the meantime in their 3:1 (2:0) win over brave second division runners-up SC Paderborn in the round of 16. Following the elimination of record winners FC Bayern Munich and defending champions RB Leipzig, Bayer are now considered to have the best chance of winning the title. After 21 competitive matches this season, the Werkself are still unbeaten with 19 wins.
The big downer for Leverkusen was the loss of international Wirtz through injury, who had to leave the pitch after being kicked on the heel (44th minute). Wirtz was able to make an appearance afterwards, but was led into the dressing room with his face contorted in pain and supported by two coaches. Bayer initially wrote that the 20-year-old had received a "painful blow to his ankle".
The goals for Bayer were scored by Victor Boniface (12') with his 14th competitive goal since his transfer in the summer, the Argentinian world champion Exequiel Palacios (29') and Patrik Schick twelve minutes after his substitution (87'). Paderborn, who had won 3-1 at SC Freiburg in the previous round and whose coach Lukas Kwasniok had led 1. FC Saarbrücken into the semi-finals as the first fourth-division team in 2020, had reduced the deficit through Sebastian Klaas (83'). However, it was not enough for the third quarter-final appearance in the club's history after 2018 and 2019.
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- Despite the elimination of FC Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer 04 Leverkusen remains the favorite to win the DFB Cup, as they advance to the quarter-finals with ease.
- Munich's defeat in the DFB Cup allowed 1. FC Saarbrücken to knock out another Bundesliga team, as they beat Leverkusen's rivals, Eintracht Frankfurt, with two goals to none.
- The Saarbrücken team, led by Kai Brünker and Luca Kerber, has now reached the quarter-finals for the ninth time in their history, earning them around 1.7 million euros from the competition.
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who have an unbeaten record of 19 wins and 21 competitive matches this season, had a setback when their star player, Florian Wirtz, was injured during the match against SC Paderborn.
- With Wirtz's exit, the Werkself were still able to secure a 3:1 win over SC Paderborn, thanks to goals from Victor Boniface, Exequiel Palacios, and Patrik Schick, despite Paderborn's late attempt to force a draw with Sebastian Klaas' goal.
- The elimination of Eintracht Frankfurt has also seen the exit of their star player, Angelique Kerber, who has competed in Bavaria's biggest competitions and has reached the top ranks in tennis.
- Munich's defeat in the DFB Cup has sparked excitement in Bavaria's rivalry with Saarbrücken and Leverkusen, as both teams look to advance further in the competition and prove their dominance.
- The quarter-finals of the DFB Cup are now set, with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who have previously won the cup in 1992 and 1993, poised to claim another title and continue their impressive run in the competition.
Source: www.stern.de
