Semifinals drawn
Top favorites Bayer 04 Leverkusen have home advantage in the DFB Cup semi-finals and will host second division team and local rivals Fortuna Düsseldorf. In the second pairing, the venue still depends on who wins the catch-up game between 1. FC Saarbrücken and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Actually, 1. FC Kaiserslautern was given home advantage on Saturday evening, but if third division FCS progresses, they would be allowed to play in their own stadium.
The dates for the cup semi-finals are April 2nd and April 3rd. Saarbrücken and Gladbach will play in the last quarter-final on March 12th (8:30 p.m.). The public TV broadcasters ARD and ZDF are allowed to broadcast a total of 15 DFB Cup games on free TV in the 2023/24 season, including the two semi-finals and the final. The pay-TV broadcaster Sky also has the broadcast rights for all 63 games in the DFB Cup.
Third and fourth division teams in the semi-finals: surprises of the DFB Cup
FC St. Pauli – Season 2005/06 – Out in the semi-finals
© IMAGO
After FC St. Pauli (North Regional League), only one third and one fourth division team from the lower classes made it to the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. The Hamburg team failed at FC Bayern.
The 2005/06 cup season at a glance
Arminia Bielefeld – Season 2014/15 – Out in the semi-finals
© IMAGO
Arminia Bielefeld (3rd division) escaped Bayern’s draw in the semi-finals nine years after St. Pauli’s march through, but still lost 4-0 to VfL Wolfsburg.
The 2014/15 cup season at a glance
1. FC Saarbrücken – Season 2019/20 – Out in the semi-finals
© IMAGO
Saarbrücken (Southwest Regional League) was the only team that made it to the cup semi-finals as a fourth division team. There it was over against Bayer Leverkusen.
The 2019/20 cup season at a glance
Eintracht Trier – 1997/98 season – out in the semi-finals
© IMAGO
Trier experienced its cup highlight as a third division team in the semi-finals of 1998, where it ended in a spectacular penalty shootout against MSV Duisburg.
The 1997/98 cup season at a glance
Energie Cottbus – Season 1996/97 – Out in the final
© IMAGO
Energie Cottbus also achieved the feat of reaching the final as a third division team in 1996, having to give up the final against VfB Stuttgart.
The 1996/97 cup season at a glance
Hertha BSC II – Season 1992/93 – Out in the final
© IMAGO
In 1993, Hertha made it to the final, but was the third division reserve team. In the final it was 1-0 for Bayer Leverkusen.
The 1992/93 cup season at a glance
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