The Bundesliga exodus in the DFB Cup will continue
Record cup winners Bayern Munich? Out! Defending champions RB Leipzig? Out! Union Berlin, 1. FC Köln, 1. FC Heidenheim, SC Freiburg, 1899 Hoffenheim and FSV Mainz 05 are also out. After the exodus of Bundesliga clubs in the second round of the DFB Cup, only six representatives of the upper house are still in the round of 16 - the lowest number since 1992/93.
The exodus will continue in the next round. At least two Bundesliga clubs will have to bow out after the round of 16. It is likely to be difficult for the two away teams. Borussia Dortmund must travel to surprise club VfB Stuttgart and the team from the Mittellandkanal, VfL Wolfsburg, will sail towards the Lower Rhine, where the traditional colts Borussia Mönchengladbach will be waiting for them.
Meanwhile, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, currently arguably the best club team in the country, will welcome SC Paderborn. While Hertha BSC and Hamburger SV can replay the Bundesliga relegation play-offs from the 2021/2022 season. The teams will meet at Berlin's Olympiastadion.
With 1. FC Saarbrücken and FC Homburg, Saarland will also provide two clubs for the round of 16 on December 5 and 6, 2023. The two clubs are the last teams outside of Germany's top two leagues. FCB shockers Saarbrücken will face last year's finalists Eintracht Frankfurt. "If you've knocked Bayern out of the cup, the next opponent is just as difficult," said Saarbrücken sporting director Jürgen Luginger on ZDF. Homburg face second division leaders FC St. Pauli.
All matches at a glance
Bundesliga against Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart - Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Mönchengladbach - VfL Wolfsburg
Second Bundesliga against Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen - SC Paderborn
Second Bundesliga against Second Bundesliga
Hertha BSC - Hamburger SV
1. FC Kaiserslautern - 1. FC Nuremberg
1. FC Magdeburg - Fortuna Düsseldorf
Third division against Bundesliga
1. FC Saarbrücken - Eintracht Frankfurt
Regionalliga against Second Bundesliga
FC Homburg - FC St. Pauli
- Despite the struggles of Bundesliga teams in the DFB Cup, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, currently one of the best clubs in Germany, is hoping to continue their run against SC Paderborn.
- Borussia Dortmund, eager to bounce back after their Bundesliga exit, will face a challenging trip to VfB Stuttgart in the round of 16.
- VfL Wolfsburg, the Mittellandkanal team, will journey to Borussia Mönchengladbach, looking to beat the traditional colts and advance further in the DFB Cup.
- Hertha BSC and Hamburger SV, both relegation play-off rivals from the 2021/2022 Bundesliga season, will meet again in the Cup at Berlin's Olympiastadion.
- In the Second Bundesliga clash, 1. FC Kaiserslautern and 1. FC Nuremberg will face off, hoping to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
- Meanwhile, in another Second Bundesliga match, FSV Mainz 05, who were also eliminated early from the Bundesliga, will compete against 1. FC Köln in the DFB Cup.
- SC Paderborn, currently in the Second Bundesliga, will have a tough test against the record cup winners, Bayern Munich's rival, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in the round of 16.
Source: www.ntv.de
