A 120-times higher squad value, 16 internationals compared to none, 275,000 more club members – FC Bayern München and SC Paderborn 07 may be poles apart, but the record German league and cup champions and the third-division outfit will start on level terms come kick-off in their DFB-Pokal quarterfinal on Tuesday evening (18:30 CET).
The previous meetings between the clubs won’t fill Paderborn fans with hope, however. SCP have faced FCB three times before, with three heavy defeats on their record. Their two Bundesliga clashes in 2014/15 ended 4-0 and 6-0, while a cup tie back in 2001 finished 5-1 to Bayern, with that sole Paderborn strike against the Munich giants coming from Krzysztof Karpowicz in the final minute.
Nevertheless, the favourites have huge respect for their opponents. “We would never underestimate our opposition,” said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic after the draw was made. Meanwhile, it’s something of a win-win situation in the Paderborn camp. “We have nothing to lose, so what could be better than a match against Bayern,” said SCP coach Steffen Baumgart.
League leaders go head-to-head
The two sides do have something in common going into the game, however; they both sit top of the table in their respective division. FC Bayern are 18 points clear in the Bundesliga, and although Paderborn might only have a four-point cushion in the 3. Liga, they are eleven ahead of fourth place. It’s a situation that was never supposed to happen, with the North Rhein-Westphalia side actually due to be relegated to the Regionalliga at the end of last season, but TSV 1860 München’s failure to secure a licence for the third division meant Paderborn stayed there in the instead.
Their surprise form hasn’t been limited to the league either, as they’ve pulled off one surprise result after another on their way to the DFB-Pokal quarterfinals. Paderborn were matched up against second-tier sides in each of the previous three rounds, but impressed to see off St. Pauli (2-1), VfL Bochum (2-0) and FC Ingolstadt (1-0). Their recent run in the league isn’t bad either, with a 1-1 draw to SG Sonnenhof Großaspach on the weekend a sixth competitive game without defeat.
Bayern’s ten-match winning run
When it comes to form though, there’s no topping Bayern. Jupp Heynckes’ side have won ten competitive games in a row since December, beating Mainz 2-0 last time out in the Bundesliga. The defending champions in the top flight haven’t been fazed by setbacks in recent matches either, beating Werder Bremen 4-2 after going 1-0 down and a Niklas Süle own goal making it 2-2 later in the game, plus there was a 5-2 triumph over Hoffenheim, despite having trailed 2-0 in the first half.
FCB’s route to the last eight hasn’t been easy, having had to knock out two of Germany’s top sides along the way. Penalties were required to see off RB Leipzig in the second round, before they got revenge for last season’s semi-final defeat to Dortmund, winning 2-1 at the Allianz Arena this time. Their first-round tie was against one of Paderborn’s fellow 3. Liga sides – Chemnitzer FC were on the wrong end of a 5-0 scoreline. SCP will be hoping Tuesday night doesn’t have a similar ending.
