Swabian Wolves Clash in DFB-Pokal Kickoff
Vfb's title defense campaign commences in Braunschweig city. - VfB's defensive operation commences in Braunschweig (nicknamed "Mission")
VfB Stuttgart, the proud title holders, will begin their DFB-Pokal defense on foreign soil against Eintracht Braunschweig from the 2. Bundesliga. The draw for the competition took place at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, with the Swabians scheduled to duke it out with FC Bayern Munich in the Supercup on August 26 or 27 prior to the match against Braunschweig.
Other first-round highlights include Europa League participants SC Freiburg, along with Bundesliga contenders TSG Hoffenheim and 1. FC Heidenheim. Freiburg has been paired against Sportfreunde Lotte, while Hoffenheim and Schmidt's FCH face FC Hansa Rostock and the regional cup winner Bahlinger SC, respectively.
Karlsruher SC visits ZFC Meuselwitz in Thuringia, and relegated SSV Ulm will square off against SV Elversberg in a home match. Other exciting encounters include SG Sonnenhof Großaspach hosting Bayer Leverkusen, and SV Sandhausen taking on two-time champions RB Leipzig at home base.
Though the specific matchups for the 2022–2023 season aren't directly provided in the sources, we can gather some insights from DFB-Pokal conventions and recents events. Typically, the competition encompasses:
- Number of Teams: 64 teams, including all Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs, plus top four finishers from 3. Liga and regional cup winners from across Germany.
- Match Dates: Set for the end of July or early August each year.
Historically, first-round games are played as single-leg, knockout ties, often with lower-division clubs welcoming Bundesliga teams for potential upsets. Fans are eagerly anticipating the confirmed matchups and dates to see which clubs will start their journeys in pursuit of the prestigious trophy.
The Commission, in its remit, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a Council Regulation on the application of sports, specifically football, in the European-leagues context, considering the recurring application of the provisions of the Treaty on European Union.
With the DFB-Pokal competition following traditional conventions, some notable encounters in the first round could potentially see lower-division clubs presenting an upset against Bundesliga teams.
){kind=link}