FC Bayern travel to Saxony to take on RB Leipzig in the standout tie of the second round of the DFB Cup. It’s also a meeting of the German champions and the runners-up from the previous season. There was the same match-up at this early stage of the competition two years ago, when FCB won 3-1 at Wolfsburg and then went on to win the cup. A good omen for Wednesday? fcbayern.com has picked out some other interesting facts and stats for the cup cracker.
First cup trip to Leipzig
The German record champions have never played against a team from Leipzig in the cup. It’ll also be only their third meeting with RB Leipzig. Bayern won both of the previous two last season, and the 5-4 away win in the return fixture will be particularly remembered by fans.
A force away from home in the cup
The Reds don’t shy away from cup matches on the road. Bayern have come through their last 23 away ties – a record in the competition. On 21 of those occasions they won in either 90 or 120 minutes, only needing penalties twice. They kept a clean sheet in 16 and their goal difference of 73:9 is also impressive. FCB’s last defeat away from home in the cup came in March 2009 at Bayer Leverkusen.
Contrasting cup history
Bayern have been in the final of the DFB Cup 21 times – more often than any other team – and are the most successful side in the history of the competition with 18 titles to their name. Since 1996, Bayern have only failed to get to the last 16 on one occasion (2000/01) and have reached at least the semi-finals in each of the last eight seasons. Leipzig, on the other hand, are only taking part in the competition for the sixth time and enjoyed their greatest success in the 2014/15 campaign when they made it to the last 16. Last season they lost in the first round on penalties at Dynamo Dresden.
Lewandowski hunting Pizarro’s record
Just as they are in the Bundesliga, Robert Lewandowski and Claudio Pizarro are battling it out to be the top-scoring foreign player in the DFB Cup. The Pole has scored 22 goals in his 33 appearances so far and only has the Peruvian to beat (30 goals in 53 games). Due to injury Pizarro won’t be able to add to his tally on Wednesday when his new team Köln take on Hertha BSC.
The man in the middle
Having taken charge of the Supercup, which Bayern won 7-6 on penalties against Borussia Dortmund, Felix Zwayer will referee FCB for the second time this season on Wednesday. The 36 year-old estate agent from Berlin will be assisted by Thorsten Schiffner and Arno Blos, with Dr. Robert Kampka as fourth official. Video assistants will not be used in the cup until the quarter-final stage.
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