Semi-final, 09.06.2020: FC Saarbrücken v Bayer 04 0-3 (0-2)
The semi-final draw took the Werkself to Völklingen in Saarland, where FC Saarbrücken, whose Ludwigspark Stadium is undergoing reconstruction, had overcome clear favourites in previous rounds. Second division outfits Jahn Regensburg and Karlsruher SC as well as two Bundesliga teams from the Rhineland, Fortuna Düsseldorf and FC Köln, saw their cup ambitions disappear under the pale floodlights at the Hermann Neuberger Stadium. Saarbrücken were champions of the cancelled Regional League season and thereby promoted to the third division but there were concerns that the Werkself could underestimate their opponents in the first DFB Cup tie played behind closed doors. But not Peter Bosz: “It’s all about getting to the final. All of us know what’s at stake!”
Bayer 04 approached the game in a professional frame of mind: serious, focussed, confident on the ball and determined to score. Moussa Diaby (11’) and Lucas Alario (19’) silenced the hosts with goals early on and Karim Bellarabi sealed victory on the hour mark with a third goal.
“Every player dreams of playing in the final of a competition. We’re proud and over the moon,” said Kerem Demirbay, who provided all three assists. At the same time, Fernando Carro, with the players singing the traditional ‘Berlin, Berlin, we’re off to Berlin!’, was already looking forward to 4 July just like Peter Bosz. “It’s a great win and the chance of a title,” said the chairman of the board and the Werkself coach declared: “You play to win in a final. That will be the next mission.”
Match stats:
FC Saarbrücken: Batz – Jänicke (Froese 46’), Schorch (Bulic 87’), Zeitz, Uaferra, Barylla – Perdedaj (Breitenbach 68’), Zellner, Golley, Müller (Mendler 68’) – Jacob (Eisele 78’)
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser, Tapsoba (Tah 46’), S. Bender (Dragovic 62’), Wendell – Aránguiz (Palacios 70’), Demirbay – Wirtz (Bellarabi 46’), Paulinho, Diaby (Volland 62’) – Alario
Goals: 0-1 Diaby (11’), 0-2 Alario (19’), 0-3 Bellarabi (58’)
Referee: Guido Winkmann (Kerken)
Booked: Tapsoba
Attendance: Played behind closed doors
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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