Six years without a cup final – far too long a dry spell for FC Bayern. Now the next step towards Berlin is to be taken in the quarter-final against RB Leipzig. Coach Vincent Kompany makes it clear: there will be no experiments
6-0 at home, 5-1 away – FC Bayern’s record against RB Leipzig this season could hardly be clearer. Nevertheless, Vincent Kompany warns against too much euphoria. In the DFB Cup quarter-final on Wednesday evening (20:45, ARD and FCBinside LIVETICKER), the Belgian will rely on his strongest line-up. „Because it’s at home, because it’s the cup and an absolute must-win, I want to have the feeling that we’ll bring what we can bring,“ the 39-year-old made unmistakably clear ahead of the clash
The longing for Berlin is great at Säbener Straße. The record champions last reached the final in 2020, beating Bayer Leverkusen 4:2. Since then, it has always ended in the quarter-finals at the latest – with some bitter embarrassments against lower-ranked opponents such as Holstein Kiel or 1. FC Saarbrücken. „We haven’t been to Berlin for six years, which means we have some catching up to do,“ explained CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen in the run-up to the match
No experiments – Kompany relies on the tried and tested
Kompany is fully aware of the importance of this match. „This week, the cup is number one for me, then the Bundesliga again from Thursday,“ he made clear. Accordingly, there will be no rotation. Manuel Neuer will be in goal, key players such as Luis Diaz will not be rested. „No matter how much he has run at the weekend, he is always fresh on Monday,“ emphasized the coach with regard to his attacking star
Kompany is not fooled by the fact that Leipzig were clearly outclassed twice in the league. „We have to be prepared for everything. Something always happens in the cup before you win the title,“ he warned. The two teams know each other very well, with the coach particularly highlighting the goal threat and creativity of Leipzig’s attack. But the Bayern coach is convinced that his team is up to the task – if the right attitude is in place. Anyone wishing to place a corresponding sports bet on the cup clash between Bayern and Leipzig can do so easily at Metaspins with just a few clicks
Kompany will not decide until Tuesday evening who will make the squad and who, like Min-jae Kim recently, will have to sit in the stands. However, the Belgian is positive about the personnel situation: „I don’t want to make an issue of it. It’s a positive thing if the players are fit. I won’t be happy for the one who stays at home.“ Looking ahead to the coming weeks, he added: „The boys are fit. That’s what I hope for until the end of the season.“
Werner accepts underdog role – and sends out a challenge
On the other side, RB coach Ole Werner is happy to accept the underdog role. „Nobody expects us to leave the pitch as winners, but we do – and you should see that on the pitch,“ explained the 37-year-old confidently. He does not want to overestimate the two clear defeats in the Bundesliga. „I don’t have the feeling that my team needs to be lifted, but that we can take many positive elements from the second leg,“ said Werner. In addition, it is now „a different competition“
Leipzig certainly have ambitions in the cup. RB have already been crowned winners in 2022 and 2023, and a third triumph is the declared goal. „There are certainly spaces that will arise again and again,“ analysed Werner with a view to the Bayern defence. The coach called for them to exploit these „with courage and a broad chest“. „I do believe that we have players on the pitch who can hurt Bayern.“
For FC Bayern, Wednesday is about more than just advancing to the semi-finals. It’s about making amends for six years of cup frustration – and taking the first step back to Berlin.