Shockingly, Bayern secures a spot in the DFB Cup once more.
FC Saarbrucken, a third-division team, is making waves in the DFB-Pokal once again. This year, they knocked out Bayern, Gladbach, and Frankfurt. They also won the Saarland Cup, just like Dresden, Offenbach, Aachen, and Essen. Arminia Bielefeld is celebrating this achievement, but also mourning the departure of their beloved striker Fabian Klos.
Saarbrucken could make more history in the DFB-Pokal. They defeated rival FC 08 Homburg 2:1 (2:1) and won the Saarland Cup, earning them a spot in the first round next season. However, their journey ended in the semi-finals as they lost to 1. FC Kaiserslautern in early April.
Oberliga side TuS Makkabi Berlin, on the other hand, won't be participating in the first round of 2024/25. They were defeated by Regionalliga side Viktoria Berlin 0:3 (0:0) at the "Day of Amateurs." Last year, Makkabi made history as the first Jewish club to qualify for the DFB-Pokal, but they were eliminated in the first round against VfL Wolfsburg with a 0:6 loss. Dynamo Dresden, the defending Landespokalsieger from Berlin, secured their place in the first round of 2024/25 after winning the Saxony Cup against Erzgebirge Aue (2:0 n.V.). Erzgebirge Aue was already guaranteed participation in the DFB-Pokal as the finalist.
Kickers Offenbach also won the Hessen Cup, beating Türk Gücü Friedberg 3:2 (1:1), and securing a place in the Pokal. Although Türk Gücü kept the match exciting until the whistle blew, it's the second time in seven years that Kickers have qualified for the DFB-Pokal. In 1970, the traditional club won the DFB-Pokal.
Aachen, Rot-Weiss Essen, and Arminia Bielefeld have also secured their spots in the Pokal. Aachen won the Mittelrhein Cup against Bonner SC with a 4:2 (2:1) victory, completing a perfect season after winning the championship in the Football Regionalliga West. Essen claimed the Niederrhein Cup against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen 3:0 (0:0). And Arminia Bielefeld defeated SC Verl 3:1 (2:1) in a tough match, with both teams receiving red cards. It was also the last match for Arminia's cult striker, Fabian Klos.
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Arminia Bielefeld's celebration of securing a spot in the DFB Cup is tinged with sadness, as their top scorer Fabian Klos is leaving the club. In the same competition, third-division team FC Saarbrucken, known for their recent victories over Bayern, Gladbach, and Frankfurt, hails from the same region as Aachen, another team that has qualified for the DFB Cup, having won the Mittelrhein Cup. FC Bayern Munich, despite securing their spot in the DFB Cup once again, would have faced stiff competition from Saarbrucken if their journey hadn't been cut short in the semi-finals.
Source: www.ntv.de
