Third-tier Saarbrucken will aim to extend their remarkable cup run on Wednesday, when they host Borussia Monchengladbach in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals.
The 3. Liga side have already eliminated Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt, and they are now intent on toppling another Bundesliga giant.
Match preview
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Backing up the greatest giant-slaying of all, Saarbrucken successfully followed an incredible second-round upset of Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal's last 16, as they scored from two of three shots on target at home to the 2022 Europa League winners.
After producing a goal in the final minute of extra time to oust mighty Bayern, the Saarland side then downed Frankfurt in December, thanks to second-half strikes from Kai Brunker and Luca Kerber.
Having sent the team then sitting seventh in the Bundesliga packing, Saarbrucken are back for more this week, when they host another member of Germany's football establishment at Ludwigsparkstadion.
It is not the first time in recent memory that they have caused a stir in the DFB-Pokal, as in 2020 they became the first team from the fourth tier to reach the semi-finals - beating Fortuna Dusseldorf in the quarters before finally falling to Bayer Leverkusen one step short of the final.
Since seeing off Frankfurt, Rudiger Ziehl's side have lost only one competitive fixture, but they occupy a modest 12th place in the third tier - some 20 points adrift of leaders Jahn Regensburg - after being held to a 1-1 draw by Borussia Dortmund II last weekend.
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Not only have they been drawn against relative minnows, but Borussia Monchengladbach are also acutely aware that this year's German cup competition is now wide open, with only three Bundesliga teams remaining.
Therefore, the three-time winners will be intent on adding to their most recent triumph, which came back in 1995, when the trophy is presented in May.
Mired in mid-table mediocrity, Gerardo Seoane's side have recently seen slim hopes of securing European football hit by a run of one point from three games, and they sit 10 points adrift of sixth-placed Frankfurt in the top-flight table.
Indeed, Die Fohlen have accrued just 21 points from 20 league games this season - their worst return for over a decade - and are yet to win back-to-back Bundesliga fixtures under Seoane, who was appointed in July last year.
A 3-1 loss to Bayern last week means Gladbach have posted only one away win from 10 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 name is already on the cup.
Team News
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Although Ko Itakura will be returning from the Asian Cup following Japan's dramatic quarter-final defeat, Gladbach boss Gerard Seoane is still without Tomas Cvancara, Max Wober, Alassane Plea and goalkeeper Jonas Omlin.
Rocco Reitz and Nathan Ngoumou came in for Manu Kone and Robin Hack against Bayern, but roles could be reversed on Wednesday evening, when the latter may join Jordan Pefok up front.
Saarbrucken-born midfielder Patrick Herrmann hopes to overcome a knee problem in time to make the visitors' squad.
Meanwhile, the hosts' top scorer Kai Brunker - with nine league goals to his name this term, plus two in the DFB-Pokal - will feature up front at Ludwigsparkstadion.
Former Germany Under-18 international Bone Uaferro is set to start in defence, after sitting out the draw with Dortmund's reserves due to suspension. Four years ago, he was part of the Saarbrucken side that went all the way to the semis as a fourth-division club.
Patrick Schmidt, Sebastian Jacob, Richard Neudecker and Dominik Becker will all miss out through injury.
Saarbrucken possible starting lineup:
Schreiber; Kerber, Zeitz, Uaferro, Gaus; Gunther-Schmidt, Civeja, Rabihic, Sontheimer; Brukner, Naifi
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Scally, Friedrich, Elvedi; Honorat, Neuhaus, Weigl, Kone, Netz; Hack, Jordan
We say: Saarbrucken 1-2 Borussia Monchengladbach (after extra time)
Only rock-bottom Darmstadt have conceded more goals than Gladbach in the Bundesliga, so Saarbrucken certainly have a chance of causing another upset and reaching the semi-finals. In a contest that could go to extra time - which would not be the first time for either side in this season's competition - the visitors should just edge through to the final four.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
