DFB Cup: Bayer 04 draw Union Berlin

The draw at the German Football Museum in Dortmund was made by comedian Carolin Kebekus and Germany U21 coach Stefan Kuntz who led Germany to victory in the U21 European Championships. Bayer 04 beat third division Karlsruher SC 3-0 in the first round in extra time and now face Union Berlin who beat Regional League FC Saarbrücken 2-1, also in extra time. The second round tie will be played on Tuesday or Wednesday, 24 or 25 October.

Bayer 04 head coach Heiko Herrlich, commenting on the opponents, said: "An attractive draw. We are home to a top team from the second division who are in with a good chance of being promoted. Nevertheless, we accept the role as favourites and want to go through to the next round with our supporters behind us." CEO Michael Schade also assessed the second round tie: “I’m very happy for the fans that we’re at home again in the Cup. It’s a good draw but we won’t underestimate our opponents. I think Union are amongst the favourites to get promoted. We’ll have to be very focussed going into the game if we’re going to achieve one of our targets for the season. We want to progress as far as we can in the Cup.”

This will be the second time the two teams have met in a competitive match. In 2003/4 the team from Berlin also faced the Werkself in the second round of the DFB Cup. Bayer 04 won the game at the Alten Försterei in Berlin 5-0 with goals from Hanno Ballitsch, Dimitar Berbatov (two), Daniel Ballitsch and Robson Ponte. Union Berlin have made an impressive start to the second division campaign. The team coached by Jens Keller beat relegated Ingolstadt 1-0, won 4-3 against Holstein Kiel before drawing 2-2 against FC Nürnberg on matchday three.

There are also two classic cup ties in the second round of the DFB Cup with runners-up RB Leipzig playing Bayern Munich and the Rhine derby between Fortuna Düsseldorf and Borussia Mönchengladbach. There are also three other games between Bundesliga sides: Hertha Berlin v FC Köln, Wolfsburg v Hannover and Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim.

SECOND ROUND DRAW IN FULL:

FC Schweinfurt 05 v Eintracht Frankfurt
VfL Osnabrück v FC Nürnberg
FC Magdeburg v Borussia Dortmund
SC Paderborn v VfL Bochum
SV Wehen Wiesbaden v FC Schalke 04
Fortuna Düsseldorf v Borussia Mönchengladbach
FSV Mainz 05 v Holstein Kiel
Hertha BSC v FC Köln
Bayer 04 v FC Union Berlin
SSV Jahn Regensburg v FC Heidenheim
VfL Wolfsburg v Hannover 96
Werder Bremen v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
FC Kaiserslautern v VfB Stuttgart
SpVgg Greuther Fürth v FC Ingolstadt
SC Freiburg v Dynamo Dresden
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich