Third-tier Saarbrucken will look to extend their remarkable cup run on Tuesday, when they host Borussia Monchengladbach in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals.
The German Cup quarter-final clash which was initially slated for February 7, was postponed shortly before kickoff due to the water-soaked pitch and rescheduled for March 12.
Match preview
© Reuters
Saarbrucken have earned the giant-killers tag in this season's DFB Pokal, having already knocked out top-flight sides Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt in successive rounds.
Rudiger Ziehl's men produced the biggest shock of the competition after successfully knocking out Bayern in the second round, sealing victory in the final minute of extra time.
Next in line were Frankfurt in the round of 16, and they did them justice, thanks to second-half strikes from Kai Brunker and Luca Kerber.
Both of these victories have come at Saarbrucken's home ground, the Ludwigsparkstadion, and now, the 3. Liga outfit host another Bundesliga side, looking to continue their fairytale run.
This is not their first DFB-Pokal deep run in recent years. In 2020, they were the first fourth-division team to reach the semis, defeating Fortuna Dusseldorf before bowing out to Bayer Leverkusen just before the final.
Since eliminating Frankfurt, Ziehl's men have lost only one competitive fixture, winning their last fixture 2-0 against Erzgebirge Aue, but they are eighth in the 3. Liga, 11 points adrift of leaders Jahn Regensburg, having played a game less.
The Saarland-based outfit will be looking to keep their unbeaten streak going while embarking on another giant-slaying mission, as they aim to reach the German Cup semi-final for the fourth time in their history.
© Reuters
Borussia Monchengladbach are aware that this year's German Cup competition is wide open, with Bayer Leverkusen the only remaining team from the top flight.
Therefore, the three-time winners will be intent on adding to their most recent triumph, which came back in 1995, when the trophy is lifted in May.
Stuck in Bundesliga mid-table, Gerardo Seoane's side have only won once in their last eight games, with any hope of securing European football seemingly vanished, as they sit 10 points adrift of sixth-placed Frankfurt in the top-flight table.
Die Fohlen have accrued just 27 points from 25 league games this season and are yet to win back-to-back Bundesliga fixtures under Seoane, who was appointed in July last year.
Gladbach have only one away win from 12 attempts ahead of their trip to Saarbrucken, but having scraped past Wolfsburg in the last round, via a last-gasp winner from Manu Kone, they may feel their destiny is already intertwined with the cup.
Team News
© Reuters
The hosts will be without the quartet of Patrick Schmidt, Sebastian Jacob, Richard Neudecker and Bone Uaferro, who are all nursing varying degree of injuries.
Leading scorer Brunker - with 10 league goals this season, plus two in the DFB-Pokal - was rested in the win over Erzgebirge Aue, but is expected to feature up front at Ludwigsparkstadion alongside Julius Biada.
Gladbach will remain without Tomas Cvancara and Alassane Plea, who are nursing ankle and foot injuries respectively.
Robin Hack came off the bench to score a brace within two minutes in the draw with Cologne last weekend and will be pushing for a place in attack from the start on Tuesday.
Jordan Pefok should start up front, while Franck Honorat offers support from the right to complete the attack.
Saarbrucken possible starting lineup:
Schreiber; Rizzuto, Kerber, Zeitz, Thoelke, Gaus; Naifi, Rabihic, Sontheimer; Brukner, Biada
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Scally, Woeber, Elvedi, Netz; Neuhaus, Weigl, Kone; Hack, Jordan, Honorat
We say: Saarbrucken 2-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
Gladbach have been bad travelers this season and we think this could be their undoing on Tuesday. Saarbrucken have gained immense confidence from the last two rounds and have been in this position as recently as 2020. We think that the home side will continue their fairytale run in the competition.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
