Saarbrucken DFB Pokal odds have the 3. Liga side as rank outsiders against top-flight Borussia Monchengladbach in the quarter-final this Tuesday.
The minnows from Saarland cannot be written off though, considering the big scalps the club have taken in this season’s DFB Pokal. Saarbucken’s cup run started in August when they defeated second-tier Karlsruher SC 2-1. In the following round, the 3. Liga club produced one of their greatest-ever performances to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 before another stunning result at home against Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0).
The club will now aim to reach the semi-final for the first time since 2019/20 as they welcome Monchengladbach to Ludwigsparkstadion. Yet Saarbrucken has never defeated the Foals in three previous meetings, and odds of 4/1 suggest the third-tier side is up against it in the upcoming last-eight tie.
We recap Die Molschder’s giant-killing run in the cup and assess their chances of becoming the very first 3. Liga side to win the DFB Pokal.
Saarbrucken DFB Pokal odds – Die Molschder 28/1 outsiders to lift the trophy
Confidence builder against Karlsruher SC
Saarbrucken would have been happy to get to half time with a 0-0 scoreline against Bundesliga 2 opponents Karlsruher SC in the first round. Still, Die Molschder started to dream when Tim Civeja struck two minutes after the break. This high was short-lived, as Lars Stindl struck 25 minutes from time until Kai Bruenker fired Saarbrucken into the second round with a 90th-minute strike.
Late goals would become a constant theme throughout this cup run.
Last gasp Gaus winner stuns Bayern
Few gave Rüdiger Ziehl’s side a chance of progressing any further when they were drawn at home against 20-time Pokal winners Bayern Munich next. A 16th-minute Thomas Muller goal sunk the mood, and it initially appeared as if Saarbrucken would be in for a long evening. Despite facing intense Bayern pressure, Die Molschder hit back through Patrick Sontheimer on 45 minutes.
Relentless Bayern pressing for the winner ensued, but the hosts held firm and were rewarded stunningly with another 90th-minute goal, as Marcel Gaus raced from midfield and fired Civeja’s low cross past Manuel Neuer.
Eagles shot down by Die Molschder
The tough games kept coming for Saarbrucken and Eintracht Frankfurt were next to visit Ludwigsparkstadion. Much like Bayern, Frankfurt dominated and created chance after chance. A second Pokal first-half clean sheet in three matches came for the hosts as they rode out the Eagles’ storm.
Incredibly, more late drama came for Die Molschder when Kai Bruenker and Luca Kerber scored in a clinical 14 minutes during the second half. Frankfurt couldn’t hit back and a torrid afternoon ended for the visitors as Noel Futkeu was dismissed on 83 minutes.
Can Saarbrucken win the DFB Pokal?
Saarbrucken will have to channel another smash-and-grab performance against Monchengladbach if they are to reach their sixth cup semi-final. But Ziehl’s outfit has shown a knack for riding out early pressure and striking late on in the Pokal this season.
And though Monchengladbach are clear favourites for obvious reasons, it is worth noting that they are also struggling in the lower-mid table in the Bundesliga, and had to scrape past Wolfsburg at home in the round of 16 thanks to a 1-0 extra-time win.
If Saarbucken can get past Monchengladbach, they would fancy their chances against the awaiting Bundesliga 2 side FC Kaiserslautern, who have already qualified for the final four. Then comes a potential final would come against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, or even another second-tier side in Fortuna Dusseldorf.
It's a long shot, but with Leverkusen's title challenge taking precedence, nothing is out of the question.
