RBL and BVB’s paths to the DFB-Pokal quarterfinal

RB Leipzig vs. Borussia Dortmund

RB Leipzig face Borussia Dortmund up next in the DFB-Pokal. RBL will play BVB on Wednesday evening (5th April, 20:45 CEST) at a sold-out Red Bull Arena. Both teams met in the Bundesliga a few weeks ago, with Dortmund narrowly winning 2-1.

Now Leipzig want to hit back. The team are unbeaten in nine Pokal games. The last defeat was in the final in March 2021 against Borussia Dortmund (4-1).

Both teams was progressed through the current competition with many problems. While Marco Rose’s side have so far played every game at home, the Black-Yellows have played every game away. Another home game in the semifinal would be perfect!

First round: RBL and Dortmund get through without breaking a sweat

RBL’s title defence began against Regionalliga-side Teutonia 05 Ottensen in August of last year.

From the start of the game onwards, RBL allowed there to be no doubts about the result in the Red Bull Arena. After 45 minutes, the scoreboard read 4-0 and in the second half the team scored another four goals to make it 8-0. André Silva scored a brace, while Timo Werner picked up a hat-trick.

Borussia Dortmund had a much more difficult draw on paper in their first round game. Edin Terzic’s side were drawn away to play 3. Liga 1860 Munich at the Grünwalder Stadium.

The Bundesliga side removed any chance of an upset from the the very start, with goals from Donyell Malen, Jude Bellingham and Karim Adeyemi making the result clear at half time. The game finished in a comfortable 3-0 win for Dortmund.

Second round: Leipzig and BVB strike at the right time

The draw was much more difficult for the title-holders in the second round, with the team drawing a top 2. Bundesliga-side in the shap of Hamburger SV.

HSV played their part in a lively game in the opening stages, before RBL clinically took the game away from them. A Yussuf Poulsen (33‘, 36‘) brace before half time paved the way to a win. Mohamed Simakan and Benjamin Henrichs added to the scoreline in the second half, making it 4-0 at full time.

Dortmund also drew a second division side. BVB played Hannover 96 and got a win thanks to a Gregor Kobel cleansheet.

A Hannover own goal got the Black-Yellows off to an ideal start. After that, Hannover missed chances to get an equaliser, before a Bellingham penalty in the 71st minute secured the result.

Last 16: Bundesliga vs. Bundesliga

At the beginning of February, a familiar opponent made the journey to Leipzig for the last 16 in the shape of TSG Hoffenheim. This was the hardest draw RBL had had until that point.

RBL got off to a great start, with Emil Forsberg scoring the opening goal after 8 minutes. Konrad Laimer doubled the league shortly before half time. Leipzig were dominant again in the second half, but Kasper Dolberg pulled one back out of nothing (71’). The game got tight again, before Timo Werner scored six minutes before full time to secure a 3-1 win.

BVB had a proper cup tie, having drawn fellow Bundesliga and Rhineland-based side VfL Bochum in their last-16 tie.

The highlight of the game was Emre Can’s opening goal. The Germany international scored from nearly the halfway line to give his side a crucial 1-0 lead. The Black-Yellows then conceded an equaliser from the penalty spot (64’), but captain Marco Reus put his side back ahead shortly after. The team held on to secure a 2-1 win.

Look back at the 13th May 2021 final

On Wednesday, the two sides will meet in the DFB-Pokal for the second time. The first meeting was a very special occasion! Almost two years ago, Leipzig and Dortmund met each other at the Olympiastadion in Berlin for the final.

The memories of the game in May 2021 are obviously not positive from a Leipzig perspective. Jadon Sancho (2) and Erling Haaland gave Dortmund a 3-0 lead at the break. Dani Olmo pulled one back in the 71st minute to make the game interesting again, but Haaland finished off a counter successfully, ending any chance of a comeback.

One year later, and RBL were back in the same place, but this time the team managed to successfully achieve the biggest success in the club’s history. With a win in the quarterfinal against Dortmund, the team would at the very least be continuing their progression to a hat-trick of finals!