DFB Cup first round
Wed, 14/10/20, 18:00
Flick: “Everybody at Düren will be looking to surpass themselves”
It’s a David versus Goliath clash, the underdogs against the runaway favourites – and that’s the particular charm of the match. FC Bayern entertain fifth-tier 1. FC Düren in the first round of the DFB Cup on Thursday night (live text and webradio commentary from 8:45pm CEST on fcbayern.com). The roles are clearly allocated but everybody knows the magic of the cup. Our preview brings you all the pertinent information on this clash.
The situation for FC Bayern
Bayern won the cup for the 20th time in July. This season they want to defend the title once again. That would be a record, as no team has ever won the DFB Cup three times in succession.
Bayern go into the new cup campaign as holders and record champions. The tie against Düren is the start of a hectic phase for FCB with eight games in 24 days. Even though the opposition play in the fifth division, Hansi Flick does not want to underestimate them at all. “Everybody at Düren will be looking to surpass themselves,” warned the coach at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
Rewatch Hansi Flick’s press conference here:
The opposition FC Düren
“It will be the football experience of their lives for our players,” declared club president Wolfgang Spelthahn. The team coached by Giuseppe Brunetto are in the DFB Cup for the first time thanks to victory against Alemannia Aachen in the Middle Rhine Cup final. New kits have been produced for this special match against FCB and the team are travelling with a special coach that has been painted in club colours and provided free of charge by Bayern partner MAN. Due to the coronavirus measures and building work at the stadium in Düren, the match will be played at the Allianz Arena. FC Düren was founded in 2017 by a fusion of several clubs in the region. The Black and Blues have won all their games this season in the Middle Rhine League as they look to achieve the key target of promotion.
Team news
Speaking at the press conference, Hansi Flick confirmed Alexander Nübel would be in goal for Bayern.
Flick faces a difficult task as a large number of his players were in action for their national teams up until Wednesday. And the Germany players, who drew with Switzerland on Tuesday, will be rested. However, Niklas Süle “is an option,” Flick explained. The central defender did not play in the international on Tuesday. Alexander Nübel will make his debut in a Bayern shirt in goal. And the other new signings “will play. It’s a chance for them to show what they can do,” Flick revealed. Chris Richards (calf) is not available.
What the coaches say
Hansi Flick: “The only thing that counts for us is going through. We have prepared accordingly. We have to come out on top. It won’t work with 90 per cent effort.”
Wolfgang Spelthahn (FC Düren president): “Of course, we would have liked to have FC Bayern come to us. But unfortunately that can’t happen so we’re looking forward to the Allianz Arena. Even if Bayern put out their second string, their squad is so good that our chances are limited. We’ve said amongst ourselves that we want to let in less than eight goals.”
Here are key facts and figures ahead of the clash with Düren:
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