The backdrop
Eintracht have the opportunity to quickly bounce back from the 2-1 defeat in Augsburg with a round of 16 DFB Cup tie at 3. Liga side 1. FC Saarbrücken on Wednesday, 6 December. “We’re looking forward to the game in a good and interesting competition,” said head coach Dino Toppmöller ahead of the tie. “Of course, we want to win.”
Saarbrücken are currently 11th in the third division, but sensationally knocked out Bayern Munich with a dramatic 2-1 win in the second round, having already beaten Bundesliga 2 outfit Karlsruher SC by the same score in the first round.
Cup specialists
The Eagles have reached the round of 16 five times since the 2016/17 season – only Borussia Dortmund (eight) and VfL Wolfsburg (six) better that record. Eintracht won all five of those games and went on to reach the final on three occasions – most recently in the 80th DFB Cup final back in June.
Giant killers
Saarbrücken recently enjoyed a cup run in the 2019/20 season, beating SSC Jahn Regensburg, 1. FC Köln, Karlsruher SC and Fortuna Düsseldorf to reach the semi-finals, where they were eventually beaten by Bayer 04 Leverkusen. All six of their victories that season came against opponents from a higher division – no other side has achieved that feat more than three times in that period.
Of course, Karlsruhe and Bayern were also added to that list this season. Saarbrücken have won six of their last seven DFB Cup fixtures.
Match info
Kick-off: Wednesday 6 December, 18:00 CET, DFB Cup, Round of 16
Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion, Saarbrücken.
