It’s not the first game between the two sides but the match-up isn’t one with a long history. When Bayer Leverkusen come up against 1. FC Union Berlin on Tuesday (KO 18:30 CEST) in the DFB-Pokal second round, it will be just the second time that the teams have played each other. The other meeting between the two was also in the second round of the DFB-Pokal in the 2003/04 season. The Werkself eased through in that game with a 5-0 victory. Hanno Balitsch, Daniel Bierofka, Robson Ponte and Dimitar Berbatov (brace) got the goals.
“Union Berlin is an attractive draw,” Leverkusen’s head coach Heiko Herrlich said on the upcoming tie: “We’re playing at home against a top team in the 2. Bundesliga, who have a great chance of promotion this season. We will be favourites and we want to reach the next round with our fans behind us.”
Both teams made hard work of their first round matches
Union are excited for the challenge against the Bundesliga outfit. “It obviously isn’t an easy draw for us but we are looking forward to the game,” explained Helmut Schulte, 1. FC Union’s general manager. “Last season, we showed that the quality of the opposition can improve our performance. Hopefully we can make that step up again.” Last year, Union played Borussia Dortmund in Round Two of the cup and were knocked out on penalties by the side that went on to win the competition.
Union made it hard for themselves in the first round two months ago. Away at Regionalliga side 1. FC Saarbrücken, the “Eisernen” were taken to extra-time before progressing with a 2-1 win. Leverkusen beat newly-promoted 2. Bundesliga outfit Karlsruher SC 3-0 but scored all three in extra-time.
It’s not the first game between the two sides but the match-up isn’t one with a long history. When Bayer Leverkusen come up against 1. FC Union Berlin on Tuesday (KO 18:30 CEST) in the DFB-Pokal second round, it will be just the second time that the teams have played each other. The other meeting between the two was also in the second round of the DFB-Pokal in the 2003/04 season. The Werkself eased through in that game with a 5-0 victory. Hanno Balitsch, Daniel Bierofka, Robson Ponte and Dimitar Berbatov (brace) got the goals.
“Union Berlin is an attractive draw,” Leverkusen’s head coach Heiko Herrlich said on the upcoming tie: “We’re playing at home against a top team in the 2. Bundesliga, who have a great chance of promotion this season. We will be favourites and we want to reach the next round with our fans behind us.”
Both teams made hard work of their first round matches
Union are excited for the challenge against the Bundesliga outfit. “It obviously isn’t an easy draw for us but we are looking forward to the game,” explained Helmut Schulte, 1. FC Union’s general manager. “Last season, we showed that the quality of the opposition can improve our performance. Hopefully we can make that step up again.” Last year, Union played Borussia Dortmund in Round Two of the cup and were knocked out on penalties by the side that went on to win the competition.
Union made it hard for themselves in the first round two months ago. Away at Regionalliga side 1. FC Saarbrücken, the “Eisernen” were taken to extra-time before progressing with a 2-1 win. Leverkusen beat newly-promoted 2. Bundesliga outfit Karlsruher SC 3-0 but scored all three in extra-time.
