Lotte and Dortmund will try to get their DFB Cup quarter-final under way on Tuesday (18:30 CET). The initial clash, scheduled for 28th February, was postponed due to an unplayable pitch at the Frimo-Stadion. This week’s tie will take place in neighbouring Osnabrück in front of 16,000 spectators. The winners will face FC Bayern in the last four.
“Of course, I had hoped for an easier opponent,” Lotte boss Ismail Atalan told the Neuen Osnabrücker Zeitung after the draw, before adding “regardless of this we have a chance against Borussia Dortmund.”
Another upset?
Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen and TSV 1860 München have already been knocked out by the minnows this season, who have impressed offensively throughout the competition. This run is particularly impressive as they are not known as cup specialists. They’ve been in the competition just twice before - 2009/2010 and 2015/2016 – and lost in the first round on both occasions.
Their good form transfers to the league too. They are third in the 3. Liga and beat Hansa Rostock 2-0 at the weekend thanks to goals from Moritz Heyer and Kevin Freiberger. Promotion is a distinct possibility...
Tuchel wary
The game shouldn’t be overly taxing for Dortmund, who are looking to reach their fourth final in a row. However, Thomas Tuchel isn’t getting ahead of himself: “They are a third-tier side on paper, however, they are all geared up to be in the second division. We’ll treat them like we would a second-tier outfit.”
Six years ago BVB were eliminated by third-division club Kickers Offenbach in the second round of the Cup on penalties. They haven’t found the tournament that easy to contend with this year either, stumbling past 1. FC Union Berlin and Hertha BSC on penlaties in front of their own fans.
They recently won four competitive matches on the spin (three in the Bundesliga, one in the Champions League), scoring 16 goals in the process, however, they were beaten 2-1 by Hertha in Berlin on Saturday.