Brilliant performance in the cup
BTSV defender receives special award
May 25, 2026 – 6:07 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Eintracht Braunschweig was eliminated early from the DFB Cup – but a defender caused a stir. Fabio Di Michele Sánchez made it into the eleven for the season.
Although it is Eintracht Braunschweig eliminated early in the 2025/26 DFB Cup, but one defender still left a lasting impression. With his performance in the dramatic first round exit against VfB Stuttgart, Fabio Di Michele Sánchez secured a place in the team for the season.
There were warm words from the club: “Congratulations, Fabio! That evening in August was incredible!” wrote the BTSV on Instagram.
Thanks to Di Michele Sánchez: BTSV got a taste of cup sensation
In the 4-4 draw last August, Eintracht Braunschweig proved to be a tough test for Stuttgart, who started the season as reigning title holders. After an early 1-0 by Sven Köhler, it was 2-1 for VfB after 60 minutes, but then Fabio Di Michele Sánchez’s hour came.
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The left defender initially equalized to make it 2-2 after 77 minutes. Eight minutes later, Di Michele Sánchez gave Braunschweig a 3-2 lead. For a short time, the outsider looked like the winner in the home stadium – before Nick Woltemade (89th) saved Stuttgart into extra time.
In the end, the defending champions prevailed 12:11 in the penalty shootout. The start of another successful season for the Swabians, who made it to the cup final again – but lost 3-0 to FC Bayern. For BTSV, the season ended with relegation in the 2nd Bundesliga.
This is the eleven of the season in the DFB Cup
The best performances in one position throughout the entire season were taken into account in the eleven of the DFB Cup season. The calculation included, among other things, goals and assists, duels won, successful passes or ball conquests.
In addition to Fabio Di Michele Sánchez, Yannick Griess (FK Pirmasens), Berkay Yilmaz (1. FC Nürnberg) and Willi Orban (RB Leipzig) also made it into the defensive line. Lars Huxsohl (Eintracht Norderstedt) is in goal. In midfield, Shinta Appelkamp (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Lovro Majer (VfL Wolfsburg) and Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt) made it among the best. Attackers Dzenan Pejcinovic (VfL Wolfsburg) and Harry Kane (FC Bayern) complete the team.
