Saarbrucken vs Kaiserslautern prediction: GERMANY: DFB Pokal betting tips on match 2024-04-01 18:45.
[p]One of the least believable DFB-Pokal semi-finals in living memory will take place between two clubs plying their trade outside of Germanyâs top-flight. It would perhaps be justice if third-tier SaarbrĂŒcken reached the final after their incredible âgiant killingâ run which has seen them eliminate 11-time consecutive Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, recent Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt, and another Bundesliga mainstay in Borussia Mönchengladbach, scoring exactly twice in all four victories![/p]
[p]One must look back to 2019/20 to find SaarbrĂŒckenâs last semi-final appearance, as a fourth-tier outfit, before a 3-0 loss against likely 2023/24 finalists Bayer Leverkusen. This current cup campaign juxtaposes their league record as RĂŒdiger Ziehlâs men sit in a mid-table position in the third-tier, most recently losing against relegation-threatened Duisberg. But itâs worth noting they had failed to win the league game that preceded all four victories over higher-tier opponents in this edition. [/p]
[p]Second-tier Kaiserslautern also enter this crunch clash on the back of a league defeat, one which leaves them at serious risk of relegation. Those worries can take a backseat for the time being though as they look to become the side to finally put SaarbrĂŒcken in their place, following their own impressive cup run which saw them eliminate Bundesliga club Cologne and most recently fellow second-tier outfit Hertha Berlin. [/p]
[p]The overriding theme of Kaiserslauternâs cup run has been their prolific scoring return with 13 goals scored across their four outings. Those goals have brought them to their first DFB Pokal semi-final in a decade when they lost 5-1 to Bayern Munich in 2013/14. The two-time winners will be hoping for their first appearance in the final, and a shot at European football, since losing the showpiece event in 2002/03. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: With his dreams of winning the DFB-Pokal top-scorer accolade alive, Kai BrĂŒnker will hope to build on his three match winners in the competition for SaarbrĂŒcken this season. Also on three cup goals is Kaiserslauternâs Richmond Tachie, who scored the eventual winning goal in both the Round of 16 and quarter-final. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Kaiserslautern boss Friedhelm Funkel has won just one of his six personal clashes against SaarbrĂŒcken (W1, D3, L2), with his side conceding at least twice in four of the last five. [/p]