German champions Bayer Leverkusen are clear favourites to face second division side 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the DFB Cup final – here is everything you need to know about the final in Berlin.
When is the DFB Cup final?
The final between Kaiserslautern and Leverkusen is scheduled for Saturday, May 25, at 8 p.m.
Where will the cup final take place?
Since 1985, Berlin’s Olympic Stadium has been the permanent venue for the cup final; before that, it had taken place in different stadiums. The Olympic Stadium has space for up to 74,475 spectators.
Who is broadcasting live on TV?
Das Erste is broadcasting live, the Sportschau program starts at 7 p.m. The presenter is Esther Sedlaczek, Bastian Schweinsteiger is at her side as an expert, and Gerd Gottlob is the live commentator. A live stream can be found on sportschau.de and in the ARD media library, and the Tagesschau is broadcast during halftime. Following the broadcast, the first two episodes of the four-part documentary “We are world champions. The 2014 World Cup adventure” can be seen.
Can I also hear the finale live?
Yes, the Sportschau offers a live audio report, which can be found here.
Listen to the DFB Cup live: Kaiserslautern vs. Leverkusen
Where can I see a summary?
Shortly after the final whistle, a highlight compilation will be published on sportschau.de and in the ARD media library.
What is the mode?
If the score is tied after 90 minutes, there will be 30 minutes of extra time. If there is still no winner after that, a penalty shootout will follow.
What does the final mean for the Europa League?
Leverkusen is qualified for the Champions League as German champions, so only FCK will be playing for a place in the Europa League in the final. It would be the fifth lower-class German team in international business after Alemannia Aachen, Union Berlin and Hannover 96, as well as FCK itself. If Kaiserslautern loses, TSG Hoffenheim will move up to the Europa League and 1. FC Heidenheim would be in the Conference League.
Who is the favorite?
Bayer Leverkusen, of course, the undefeated Bundesliga champions. The 0:3 defeat to Atalanta Bergamo in the Europa League final did not change that. While Bayer dominated the top division, 1. FC Kaiserslautern was stuck in the relegation battle in the 2. Bundesliga for a long time. But experienced coach Friedhelm Funkel still led the team to 13th place – and his experience is also a big asset in the final. He can tell his pros about 1985: Back then, as a player with Bayer Uerdingen, he caused a big surprise in the cup final against FC Bayern Munich, winning 2:1.
With Funkel and FCK
The biggest surprises in the DFB Cup final
How did Leverkusen and Kaiserslautern make it to the final?
Both teams were lucky in their draw and only had to play against a Bundesliga team once. Leverkusen beat the strong VfB Stuttgart 3-2 in the quarter-finals, while 1. FC Kaiserslautern eliminated the struggling relegated team 1. FC Köln in the second round (3-2). In their semi-finals, both teams lived up to their role as favorites: Leverkusen beat second division team Fortuna Düsseldorf 4-0, while Kaiserslautern beat 3-0 against the favorites 1. FC Saarbrücken.
Leverkusen’s path to the final Round Opponent Result 1st round Teutonia 05 8:0 2nd round SV Sandhausen 5:2 Round of 16 SC Paderborn 3:1 Quarter-final VfB Stuttgart 3:2 Semi-final Fortuna Düsseldorf 4:0 Kaiserslautern’s path to the final Round Opponent Result 1st round RW Koblenz 0:5 2nd round 1. FC Köln 3:2 Round of 16 1. FC Nürnberg 2:0 Quarter-final Hertha BSC 3:1 Semi-final 1. FC Saarbrücken 2:0
What does history say?
Leverkusen is aiming for its second cup title after 1993. Back then, Bayer narrowly won the final 1-0 against Hertha BSC’s second team. Leverkusen then reached the final three more times, but lost 0-4 (2-4) to Schalke in 2002, 0-1 to Werder Bremen in 2009 and 2020 to Bayern Munich (2-4).
Kaiserslautern has even won two titles: in 1990 after a 3-2 final victory against Werder and in 1996 with a 1-0 win against Karlsruher SC. The FCK made it to the cup final five more times, most recently in 2003, when FC Bayern Munich won 3-1.
