2009-10 German Cup Quarters Fixtures
Werder Bremen Face Hoffenheim In Top Showdown Of German Cup Quarters
Nov 2, 2009
Defending German Cup champions Werder Bremen face off with Hoffenheim in the most intriguing of the four quarter-final matchups, which were drawn on Sunday 1 November 2009. The final eight matches will be played on February 9-10, 2010.
Werder Bremen V 1899 Hoffenheim
Defending champions and six-time winners Werder Bremen were the only first division team to draw another top flight quarterfinal opponent as they face off with 1899 Hoffenheim. Werder have to be favored for the game as it will be played in Bremen. And the Green-Whites have not lost at home in the German Cup in the last 33 contests dating back to April 13, 1988.
"It was clear that as the competition moves on that a real top showdown will come. If we want to hold the cup in our hands again then we have to successfully get past Hoffenheim," Bremen defender Per Mertesacker said on the German sports program ARD Sportschau shortly after the draw.
Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick was less than pleased about having to travel to Bremen, telling the same show: "Of course I wouldn't have picked this match-up, especially not in Bremen. We would have rather had a home game."
Bayern Munich V Greuther Fürth
The record 14-time champions Bayern Munich were drawn a home encounter with second division Greuther Fürth in a Bavarian-Franconian showdown. Greuther Fürth is a club which came into being through a 1996 fusion of TSV Vestenbergsgreuth and SpVgg Fürth. But Vestenbergsgreuth beat Bayern Munich 1-0 during the 1994 German Cup and will be looking for another absolute upset on the road.
"It could have a tougher draw. It will be a great cup night," said Bayern captain Mark von Bommel on ARD Sportschau.
Fürth club president Helmut Hack said his team was looking forward to the challenge: "This is surely the most difficult and biggest challenge for us. We still have quite a few weeks to prepare for the situation. We will play in front of the biggest crowd ever but we don't have to shy away."
FC Augsburg V Cologne
Second division side FC Augsburg will be making their first ever quarterfinal appearance and will host four-time winners Cologne, who are in the final eight for the first time since 2002-03.
Augsburg head coach Jos Luhukay and manager Andreas Rettig both have ties to Cologne, where they served a time as assistant coach and manager, respectively. "Cologne is a tradition-rich club where I had three nice years," Luhukay said on Sportschau.
And Cologne coach Zvonimir Soldo paid plenty of respect to Augsburg, saying: "This will be a tough task since Augsburg is a very strong home team. Especially in the cup, home field advantage is very important and negates any separation in league level. But we are convinced that we can reach the semifinals."
Osnabrück V Schalke
The other quarterfinal matchup has four-time winners Schalke travelling to underdogs VfL Osnabrück. Top flight Schalke cannot underestimate Osnabrück, who are in the quarters for the second time after 1989-90 following surprise victories over second division Hansa Rostock and first division sides Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund.
Dates
The quarterfinals will be played on February 9-10, 2010. The semifinals are scheduled for March 23-24, 2010 and the German Cup final will be played on May 15, 2010 at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
Money For Quarters
The cup has turned into a real money-making competition. The four home teams in the quarterfinals are guaranteed 1,127,500 euros while the away clubs take home at least 1,097,500 euros. In addition, there is the ticket sales and a bonus for those clubs playing in the free television live match.
