Alemannia Aachen welcomes 1. FC Düren in the Middle Rhine Cup semi-finals. That’s what TSV coach Heiner Backhaus said before the game.
Alemannia Aachen has been waiting for a game in the DFB Cup for almost five years. But the signs are promising that something could happen next summer with the first participation since 2019.
TSV is only one win away from the final. On the way there we will play in the semi-finals against 1. FC Düren on Friday evening (7.30 p.m., RS live ticker). Bonner SC, a Middle Rhine league team, is waiting in the final.
Around 26,000 spectators are expected at the Tivoli Stadium against Düren. This significantly exceeds the previous visitor record in the Middle Rhine Cup. “We always have a twelfth man behind us, I repeat myself week after week,” said coach Heiner Backhaus before the game.
He mixed the praise for his own fans with a small announcement to the opponent: “We know that we can rely on the people in our stadium. Düren has to get over that first – and they won’t be able to do that.”
Of course, the 42-year-old has every reason to be self-confident, as he is still unbeaten in home games with Aachen and has only suffered a defeat in the first place. “We have teams that give everything against us every week, a few percent more than usual,” says Backhaus. “I think that’s great because we’re all competitive types.”
Dürener also defeated Alemannia this season and celebrated a 2-1 victory in the regional league in front of almost 20,000 spectators. It wasn’t until the sixth minute of added time that Anton Heinz scored the decisive goal. The memories of that have faded a little, says Backhaus, referring to the numerous games that his team subsequently won in a dramatic way.
Aachen’s Bakhat is out against former club Düren
And therefore the people of Kaisestädt can justifiably hope for a double. Before the promotion of the regional league leader, who has lost eight points, is perfected in the final spurt of the season, the full focus is on the cup duel. “We want to progress and get to the final. We will do everything we can to achieve that.”
Against FCD, who according to Backhaus play “really good football”, at least one Aachen player has to forego a reunion with his former club. Anas Bakhat should continue to be built up carefully after his injury and is therefore not an option. Düren’s former goalscorer Marc Brasnic had to stop training on Thursday due to back problems. His use is open.
2024-03-21 18:46:00
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