In the first competitive fixture of the new season, a DFB Cup first round clash on the third weekend in August, Bayern face a short 125 kilometre trip within the state of Bavaria to play newly-promoted second division side Jahn Regensburg. Saturday’s cup draw, made by Germany women’s international Viola Odenbrecht and DFB team manager Oliver Bierhoff, was broadcast live on national TV from the Germany team base in Gdansk.
The tie is a tougher prospect than normal at this stage of the cup, as euphoric Jahn continue to celebrate beating Karlsruhe in a promotion play-off in late May, sealing an unlooked-for return to the second tier after an eight-year absence. "It's the draw every German club wants, an absolute highlight,” newly appointed Jahn coach Oscar Corrachano said, "it’s a wonderful gift for the team, the club and the fans!"
However, the surprise success at the end of an unexpectedly good season has also thrown up a series of problems. The men from Regensburg were without a head coach until a week ago, as previous boss Markus Weinzierl was lured away to take charge of top-flight Augsburg. On 15 June, chief executive and director of sport Franz Gerber finally announced the appointment of German-Spanish national Corrochano, a 35-year-old novice who previously supervised the Eintracht Frankfurt reserves.
History favours FCB
Had he arrived a couple of weeks earlier, Corrochano would have discovered a senior squad numbering just 12 players, as a host of last season’s stars had already fixed up moves – including Bastian Schweinsteiger’s brother Tobi, who has joined the Bayern reserves - or were not equipped with contracts covering the higher tier. However, Gerber has been busy in the transfer market since then, although it is unlikely that a coherent or balanced team can be conjured up from disparate new arrivals in time for the Munich showdown.
It is also extremely doubtful whether the glamour cup tie will be played at the venerable Jahnstadion on Prüfeninger Strasse in the Roman city, a stadium originally constructed in 1926 and still featuring a historic wooden grandstand. In its 1950s heyday the ground boasted a capacity of 30,000, but that is down to just 11,800 now, and the stadium does not currently meet German second division specifications. Jahn have applied to play their early season fixtures away from home, buying time to complete the necessary infrastructure improvements.
FCB and Jahn Regensburg have previously met twice in the cup, with both matches ending in a win for Munich. The Bundesliga giants won 4-1 after extra-time in the first round of the 1967/68 competition, and 4-0 in the 1969/70 Round of 16. Bayern fans will be hoping the third clash, to be played between 17 and 20 August, brings a third victory.
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