The DFB-Pokal is back, and only eight teams remain. Reigning champions Eintracht Frankfurt have long since been knocked out, and with Borussia Dortmund also eliminated in the last round, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Schalke remain the only "big" sides still left in the competition. Meanwhile, Hamburg, who were relegated to the 2.Bundesliga for the first time in their history last term, are still in the competition, along with minnows FC Heidenheim. Werder Bremen, SC Paderborn, and FC Augsburg round out the sides battling to feature in the final, which will take place on May 25th.
Here's all you need to know ahead of the quarter-finals, which kicks off on April 2 and finishes on April 3.
Tuesday, April 2
Paderborn vs Hamburg - 12:30 EST/18:30 CET
Given that both Paderborn and Hamburg are featuring in the 2.Bundesliga, both teams will certainly be treating this match like it is a final. After all, the winner will get a chance to feature in the semi-finals, and perhaps even the final, if things go according to plan. Paderborn are on the cusp of securing promotion to the top flight after a solid season, and sit in fourth place thanks to back-to-back wins; they now have third-placed Union Berlin in their sights.
Hamburg, meanwhile, sit in second spot and are looking set to re-claim their place in the upper tier after being relegated to the second level of German football for the first time ever last season. However, Hamburg have failed to win their last two league games and are facing a side full of positive momentum at the moment. Who will come out on top here?
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Augsburg vs RB Leipzig - 14:45 EST/20:45 CET
RB Leipzig have never gotten this far in the DFB-Pokal and will be hoping to continue on their path towards the final as they travel to face Augsburg on Tuesday. However, the hosts will be desperate to get back on track after a shocking 3-0 defeat to relegation candidates Nurnberg. Prior to that, Augsburg were unbeaten in their last three Bundesliga games (W2 D1) whilst Nurnberg had lost their last four league games in a row.
Leipzig, for their part, are unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga games (W3 D2) and come into this game having secured back-to-back victories, which has helped them ease into third place in the table. They naturally will want to use this great spell to their full advantage as they aim to seal a spot in the final four.
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Wednesday, April 3
Bayern Munich vs FC Heidenheim - 12:30 EST/18:30 CET
It's a case of David vs. Goliath as FC Heidenheim travel to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich. Notably, Heidenheim only achieved promotion to the 2.Bundesliga during the 2013/2014 season - which was a massive milestone in the club's history - and will be taking on a side who have basically turned the German top flight into a one-horse race over the past few seasons.
Although Bayern have not been infallible this time around, with Dortmund posing a stern challenge much to the delight of neutrals, they are the undisputed favorites to come out on top here. The Bundesliga title isn't a guarantee just yet as they ended up slipping up in a 1-1 draw with Freiburg last weekend, which allowed Dortmund to re-claim top spot in the table, and they were knocked out of the Champions League, so the Pokal now does present Niko Kovac's only realistic chance at silverware.
That being said, Heidenheim aren't in the last eight just by a fluke, either, and could possibly cause an upset. Cup ties are notorious for smaller teams doing just this. Will Bayern avoid being the latest victim of a slip-up in a domestic cup? Or will Heidenheim stun die Roten at the Allianz Arena?
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Schalke 04 vs Werder Bremen - 14:45 EST/20:45 CET
Schalke finally ended their losing streak by narrowly beating Hannover 1-0 in their first game after the international hiatus. That has helped die Konigsblauen move further clear of the play-off spot as they are now six points away from 16th-placed Stuttgart, and they'll be hoping to build on this as they take on Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals on Wednesday evening.
It will not be easy, however. Werder Bremen are in excellent form, with three straight wins in the Bundesliga and no defeats in their last five. That has helped them inch up the table into a solid sixth spot, and they certainly will look to pick off Schalke, who have been less than impressive all season.
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