Underdog Meuselwitz faces off against Karlsruhe in a seemingly impossible match - Dire straits call for extraordinary solutions: miraculous intervention needed
Lower-Division Underdogs Fall to Karlsruher SC in DFB-Pokal
ZFC Meuselwitz, the Thuringian cup winners from the lower divisions of German football, faced a tough challenge in the 2025 DFB-Pokal against Karlsruher SC, a team playing in the 2. Bundesliga. On August 17, 2025, the match took place, and the outcome was a 5-0 victory for Karlsruhe SC.
Despite the heavy loss, Meuselwitz showed resilience and played competitively for parts of the first half. They created several good chances and even dominated the game from the 25th minute onward, but unfortunately, they were unable to score. Karlsruher SC took an early lead with goals in the 1st and 11th minutes and extended their advantage with three additional goals after halftime.
The gap in class and resources between the two clubs heavily favored Karlsruher SC, making Meuselwitz the underdog in this matchup. The earnings from the DFB-Pokal match will benefit the club, amounting to 211,886 euros.
Club president Hubert Wolf expressed excitement about the club's participation in the DFB-Pokal, stating it is a significant achievement for the region, fans, and members. ZFC coach Georg Leopold hopes that Karlsruhe SC may underestimate them and plans to use defensive tactics that annoy the opponent.
| Club | Level | Result vs. Karlsruhe SC (2025 DFB-Pokal) | |-----------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------| | ZFC Meuselwitz | Lower divisions, Thuringian cup winners | Lost 0-5, showed fight but outclassed | | Karlsruher SC | 2. Bundesliga (Second division) | Won 5-0, clearly superior |
The match will be played on Sunday at 3:15 PM and will be broadcast on Sky. ZFC Meuselwitz captain René Eckardt expressed a desire to make the match as difficult as possible for Karlsruhe. It's worth noting that Meuselwitz has previously hosted 1. FC Köln and Hertha BSC in the DFB-Pokal.
In their previous league game against 1. FC Lok Leipzig, ZFC Meuselwitz lost 0:1. Karlsruhe SC demonstrated a higher level of play in their 3:2 win against Preußen Münster, according to Meuselwitz coach Georg Leopold. However, Karlsruhe SC fans may not be familiar with ZFC Meuselwitz, making the match an exciting opportunity for both teams.
Amidst the UEFA's Commission's proposed directive on the protection of the environment, Club president Hubert Wolf of ZFC Meuselwitz, found time to express excitement over his club's recent participation in the DFB-Pokal, stating it is a significant achievement for their region and supporters. As the underdogs in this matchup, ZFC Meuselwitz demonstrated resilience in their preparation, drawing inspiration from the competitive spirit exhibited in European leagues.
