DFB Cup quarter-finals: FC Bayern's possible opponents

On the way to what will hopefully be their first cup triumph since 2020 (4-2 in the final against Bayer 04 Leverkusen), FC Bayern overcame the difficult hurdle at the Alte Försterei on Wednesday evening and defeated Union Berlin 3-2. In the process, FCB scored at least three times in their fifth consecutive away match in the DFB Cup - a club record (previously only equalled in 2015-2017 and 1998-2000).

This is the first time the record cup winners have reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup since 2022/23. Their opponents back then were SC Freiburg, who could also be drawn against FC Bayern this Sunday, 7 December, at around 19.10 CET at the Football Museum in Dortmund (live on German TV channel ARD). The Bundesliga side, who are currently sitting in eighth position, are one of six Bundesliga clubs in the last eight. Two Bundesliga 2 clubs complete the field.

fcbayern.com has taken a closer look at the possible opponents in the next round.

These opponents could face FC Bayern - and that makes them particularly exciting

Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Bundesliga)

The two clubs have met eight times in the DFB Cup, with Bayer 04 progressing to the next round on just two occasions. The most recent of those two was a 1-0 win last season in the round of 16 in Munich, when Manuel Neuer was shown an early red card and Robert Andrich scored the golden goal. Bayern and Bayer have met four times in the quarter-finals - only once did Bayer reach the semi-finals, thanks to a 4-2 win at home in 2009. Other than that, FC Bayern were always the victors between 1985 and 2020, including in the final (4-2).

FC St. Pauli (Bundesliga)

Only twice in the long history of the cup since 1953 have the Kiezclub (neighbourhood club) and FC Bayern met - and then twice in consecutive rounds within a year, both times at the Millerntor: FCB came away as victors in both April (3-0) and September 2006 (2-1), although they needed extra time to score the winning goal in the second meeting in the first round. After a cross from Philipp Lahm, it was - Union send their regards! - an own goal. The semi-final in April was a more clear-cut affair, with goals from Pizarro (2) and Hargreaves.

RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)

The brief cup record against Leipzig is a similarly positive one - RB has only existed since 2009, when it inherited the licence to play in the fifth-tier Oberliga from SSV Markranstädt. Bayern have beaten RB twice in the cup - in 2018 in round 2 (6-5 after a penalty shoot-out), and the following year in the final (3-0, goalscorers: Lewandowski (2), Coman) - against a certain Konrad Laimer, among others.

SC Freiburg (Bundesliga)

In the long history of these two venerable clubs, Freiburg and Bayern Munich have met just twice - both times in the new millennium. In the quarter-finals in 2005, Bayern thrashed Freiburg 7-0 to knock them out of the competition. With 39 minutes on the clock, the scoreboard was already displaying 5-0. A hat-trick from Claudio Pizarro and goals from Michael Ballack and Roy Makkay made it look like a target practice session in Breisgau. After the break, Pizarro bagged a fourth and Vahid Hashemian wrapped up the win with the final goal. It was to be the Iranian's only ever competitive goal for FC Bayern. Freiburg had to wait 18 long years for the chance to take revenge for their defeat - but they used the 2023 quarter-final to pull off a shock: the 2-1 victory at the Allianz Arena knocked the Munich side out of the cup.

VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga)

The battle of the south has been played out no less than ten times in the cup - albeit mostly with a favourable outcome for FC Bayern, who only lost to VfB once: 3-0 in the round of 16 at the Neckarstadion in 1990. Otherwise, the record cup winners dominated the prestigious fixture, four times without conceding a goal and always without having to go into extra time or even to penalties. Stuttgart actually played Bayern twice in the final, with FCB coming out on top both times - both in 1986 with a 5-2 win and in 2013 in the last cup tie with a 3-2 victory. Thomas Müller and Mario Gomez (2) scored to put the Reds 3-0 in front. And in 1986? Roland Wohlfahrt (3) and Michael Rummenigge (2).

Hertha BSC (Bundesliga 2)

Four cup ties, four times in Berlin - FC Bayern have never played Hertha at home. But that's not a bad omen, as Bayern have only lost to the Old Lady once in the DFB Cup, and that was 47 years ago: Hertha won 4-2 after extra time in the 1977 quarter-final. FC Bayern triumphed on the other occasions, albeit by the tightest of margins: 3-2 (1967, 1st round), 2-1 (1987, 1st round) and 3-2 after extra time (2019, round of 16).

Holstein Kiel (Bundesliga 2)

The Bundesliga 2 side would actually be the most unfavourable draw for FC Bayern from a historical perspective, as they are one of the very few clubs in Germany to have never lost to the record champions in the cup. However, this situation has only happened once before, in the second round in 2021. In normal time, the favourites from Munich twice led through Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané - but the Storks equalised in the fifth minute of stoppage time to make it 2-2. In the lottery from the penalty spot, all takers scored up to 7-7 before Bayern's Marc Roca missed. In addition to Kiel, 1. FC Magdeburg, FV 09 Weinheim, TSV Vestenbergsgreuth, VfR Mannheim, Wiener SK, SpVgg Bayreuth, Dynamo Dresden, Ulmer FV 94, 1. SSV Ulm and Karlsruher SC all have a positive cup record against Bayern.

Who will have home advantage in the quarter-finals?

As has been customary since the round of 16, both the quarter-final and semi-final pairings will be drawn from a pot by cup winner Friedhelm Funkel, with the team drawn first having home advantage. As there are no amateur teams left, no side will automatically have the right to play at home. According to the ARD TV channel, former national team player and current DFB women's sporting director Nia Künzer will oversee the draw. Should FC Bayern once again be drawn away from home, it would be odd: the Allianz Arena has not yet hosted a cup match this season. The last knockout clash in this competition was the 1-0 defeat to defending champions Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 last season. However, another away game would also be a good omen: FCB have won 21 of their last 22 games on the road against Bundesliga clubs, the only exception being the 5-0 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the second round in 2021/22.

When will the DFB Cup quarter-finals take place?

Four dates have been set aside for the quarter-finals of the cup: The first will be 3/4 February 2026, before two more teams complete the field of participants a week later on 10/11 February 2026. The semi-finals will take place on 21/22 April 2026. The DFB Cup final will then take place on 23 May 2026, as always at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Hopefully with FC Bayern again.

No matter who the opponents are - the cup always produces great stories. The draw on Sunday, 7 November, promises to be a thrilling one. Who will secure a ticket to the semi-finals? Bayern fans can look forward to a real highlight!

FC Bayern could face these opponents in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup

Bundesliga: RB Leipzig, FC St. Pauli, VfB Stuttgart, Bayer Leverkusen, SC Freiburg
Bundesliga 2: Hertha BSC, Holstein Kiel

How Bayern made it through to the quarter-finals: