The Saarbrücken of the Fourth Division from Germany (now already promoted to Third), has already achieved the feat of reaching the Cup semifinals, but this Tuesday he dreams of taking his feat even further: he faces the Bayer Leverkusen in this round and it will be the first meeting that this modest team plays in 94 days due to the stoppage of competitions due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is the first team out of the top three categories of German football that manages to reach a cup semifinal.
This Tuesday the ‘semis’ start with this Saarbrücken-Bayer Leverkusen and on Wednesday, Bayern-Eintracht Frankfurt. They arrive for Saarbrücken, as we say, after 94 days without playing, since, although the Bundesliga resumed on May 16, Regionalliga Sudwest (Fourth) was terminated and Saarbrücken, leader with 6 points advantage, proclaimed champion and promoted to Third.
While Bayer Leverkusen has already played 5 games before the semi-final, Saarbrücken none, not even a friendly. Kianz Froese, who has given the assists of 4 of the 7 goals of his team in this Cup, said that “everything is unknown to us, we will see on the fly.”
It has been an incredible adventure the history of the Saarbrücken until this semifinal, with 2 wins by 3-2 in the last minute (in both cases, both with the assistance of Froese), followed by 2 penalties. He has already lived 4 crazy celebrations. “We are very happy to be part of this chapter in the history of the club and our careers. And now we are facing the most important game in its history. It is nice to achieve things that nobody expects. Our mentality will be that everything is possible. We have an opportunity, ”Froese told the BBC.
Daniel Batz, his goalkeeper, has stopped 4 penalties on the way to the semifinals, in which Saarbrücken have eliminated 2 Bundesliga teams and 2 Second teams. In August, he knocked out Jahn Regensburg (Second) with a 2-1. In round of 32, 3-2 at Colonia. In the second round, he eliminated Karlsruher (Second) on penalties, as did Fortuna Düsseldorf in the quarters.
Lukas Kwasniok, Saarbrücken coach, has only led the team for 5 games, following the dismissal of Dirk Lottner in December.
Saarbrücken will not have the support of its fans at the Hermann-Neuberger-Stadion (which can hold 6,800 spectators), which it considers to be an advantage for Leverkusen. The Kwasnik team has never won a great title, but was twice German runner-up (in 1943 and 1952). And it was first of the Second of France after the Second World War (but it was not given as champion). He has played 5 seasons in the Bundesliga (the last one in 1993). She dreams of returning and also of reaching the final cup on July 4 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.