The Bundesliga domination in the DFB Cup is coming to an end
Once again, the cream of the German football league is falling by the wayside in the DFB Cup. 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 have also bowed out. After the exodus of Bundesliga clubs in the second round, only six representative from the upper house remain in the round of 16 - the smallest number since 1992/93.
The exodus will continue in the next round. At least two Bundesliga clubs will most likely be ousted after the round of 16. It's going to be tough for the two away teams. Borussia Dortmund will be traveling to surprise club VfB Stuttgart and VfL Wolfsburg will head towards the Lower Rhine, where traditional colts Borussia Mönchengladbach will welcome them with open arms.
Meanwhile, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the best club team in the country at the moment, will welcome SC Paderborn. While Hertha BSC and Hamburger SV are set to replay the Bundesliga relegation play-offs from the 2021/2022 season in the Olympiastadion, Berlin.
Saarland will also provide two clubs for the round of 16 on December 5 and 6, 2023. 1. FC Saarbrücken, the FC shirt wearers, will be facing last year's finalists Eintracht Frankfurt. "If you've knocked Bayern out of the cup, the next opponent is just as difficult," said Saarbrücken's sporting director Jürgen Luginger on ZDF. Homburg will face second division leaders FC St. Pauli.
Here's how the action unfolds:
Bundesliga vs. Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart vs. Borussia Dortmund Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. VfL Wolfsburg
Second Bundesliga vs. Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen vs. SC Paderborn
Second Bundesliga vs. Second Bundesliga
Hertha BSC vs. Hamburger SV 1. FC Kaiserslautern vs. 1. FC Nuremberg 1. FC Magdeburg vs. Fortuna Düsseldorf
Third division vs. Bundesliga
1. FC Saarbrücken vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
Regionalliga vs. Second Bundesliga
FC Homburg vs. FC St. Pauli
Even with the struggles of Bundesliga teams, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, one of the best clubs in the country, is determined to push forward in the competition against SC Paderborn. Borussia Dortmund, eager to bounce back from their Bundesliga exit, will have a challenge on their hands in VfB Stuttgart in the round of 16.
VfL Wolfsburg, the Mittellandkanal team, will be facing Borussia Mönchengladbach, aiming to overcome the traditional colts and move further in the DFB Cup. Hertha BSC and Hamburger SV, both relegation play-off adversaries from the 2021/2022 Bundesliga season, will yang again in the Cup at Berlin's Olympiastadion.
The Second Bundesliga clash between 1. FC Kaiserslautern and 1. FC Nuremberg will see each team fighting for a place 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 daunting task against Bayer 04 Leverkusen's main rivals, Bayern Munich's adversary, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, in the round of 16.
Sources:
[1]: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Cologne prediction - Bayer Leverkusen to win [2]: Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen - Match Preview [3]: Leverkusen attacked Bayern back in September - Can they do it again?
Enrichment data reveals that Bayer Leverkusen, currently one of the best clubs in Germany, is expected to perform well against SC Paderborn in the round of 16. Bayern Munich, despite their most recent struggles, will be eager to maintain their winning streak against Bayer Leverkusen at home [2]. Leverkusen, who previously triumphed over Bayern 3-0 in February, are determined to bounce back from the loss they suffered in September [3].
