The Gladbachers managed the feat of being better than Bayern twice this season. Most recently at the start of the Bundesliga season (2:1). And in October in the DFB Cup, the foals sensationally beat Munich 5-0!
That’s why 96 plays on Wednesday (6.30 p.m., live Sky) in the round of 16 against Gladbach and not against Bayern.
Coach Christoph Dabrowski (43) dreams of the sensation: “Gladbach’s season has extreme fluctuations. We see a chance to grab them.”
Will Dabro Bayern-Besieger-Besieger?
Because as strong as Gladbach played against Bayern, they played weaker in many other games. The team of ex-96 captain Lars Stindl is even in the relegation battle after the 1: 2 against Leverkusen.
Dabro: “Gladbach are the favourites. But we see ways to create the surprise. We’re just looking forward to that. We must be brave. We have to be able to be there when it’s possible.”
96 against Gladbach! It is the rerun of the 1992 cup final. The Reds were the only second division team to win the pot back then – 4:3 after penalties.
In 1997, too, 96 had the better end on their side, winning 5-3 in the first round of the cup, again on penalties.
“It’s a cup – anything’s possible,” says sporting director Marcus Mann (37). With Saarbrücken (then 4th league) he sensationally made it to the semi-finals in 2020.
And Dabrowski also has his own cup stories: in 1999 he triumphed with Werder in the final against Bayern, and was in the final again a year later.
The 96 coach: “It’s a fantastic experience to play in front of a full house in Berlin. I can only wish everyone to experience that once.”
To do this, his players must first become Bayern-Besieger-Besieger.
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