1. FC Saarbrücken welcomes 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the DFB Cup semi-finals. The game will be broadcast live on Erste. After the heavy rain of the past few days, the anxious gaze is once again directed towards the lawn.
With information from Konstantin Malzahn
Saarbrücken is in cup fever! Of course, because one of the biggest games in the history of 1. FC Saarbrücken is coming up. As a third division team, the Saarlanders are sensationally in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup and are hosting their neighbors from the Palatinate, 1. FC Kaiserslautern. You can hardly get more football romance and drama. Logically, the Ludwigspark is completely sold out with almost 16,000 spectators.
Lawn covered with tarpaulins
But even before this cup game, the focus is once again on the lawn in Ludwigspark. It was completely re-laid just a few weeks ago. But in the quarter-final game against Bundesliga club Mönchengladbach, the new turf also proved to be vulnerable. Due to the forecast rainfall in Saarland, the city of Saarbrücken tried to protect the square with tarpaulins.
In order not to further jeopardize the game against FCK, the home game in the 3rd league against Rot-Weiß Essen scheduled for last Saturday was even canceled. FCS coach Rüdiger Ziehl was already optimistic about the playability on Easter Monday – the turf was in good condition.
FCS assumes playability
Today, FCS press spokesman Peter Müller announced that the game could kick off at 8:45 p.m. The referee will not make the final decision about the event until the evening.
If the semi-final had to be canceled due to heavy rain, the home team would lose the right to play the catch-up game.
Second semifinal for FCS in four years
Although the guests from the Palatinate play a league higher than the FCS, FCK coach Friedhelm Funkel even sees his red devils as underdogs in the semi-finals. There is too much respect for the third division team’s performance so far in this DFB Cup season. The derby in Ludwigspark promises great excitement.
With Bayern, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Saarlanders have knocked three Bundesliga teams out of the competition. The Saarlanders are now even considered “cup terrors” in the DFB Cup. You almost have to say it again.
The blue-blacks already achieved a small cup miracle in the 2019/2020 season. Four years ago, “Die Molschder” last reached the semi-finals of the DFB Cup – as the only fourth division team ever to do so. At that time, however, the FCS had to admit defeat to Bundesliga club Leverkusen 0-3.
Information about the game
If: Tuesday, April 2nd, 8:45 p.m
Wo: Ludwigsparkstadion, Saarbrücken
Stream: The first shows the game live
Ziehl does not see FCK as an outsider
Even if the roles are clearly assigned for Funkel and he sees FCK as outsiders in the Saar-Palatinate derby, FCS coach Rüdiger Ziehl has a different opinion. He only reacted with a smile at the press conference – and even considered his colleague’s statements to be an “April Fool’s joke.”
Although his blue-blacks were forced to play off the Easter weekend, Ziehl doesn’t see his team as having an advantage. The FCS coach would have liked to play the third division game against Rot-Weiß Essen in order to stay in the rhythm.
Meanwhile, there is positive news when it comes to personnel: Boné Uaferro will be available again after his hand injury. In addition to the long-term injuries Jacob, Schmidt and Neudecker, all other players are expected to be fit.
Police speak of “peak of the season”
The relationship between the two fan camps is considered very problematic. The police are expecting around 250 so-called “problem fans” on both sides who should be consistently separated. The police are supported by additional forces from five federal states.
There may be restrictions for fans of both clubs around the stadium. Camphauserstrasse will be completely closed to car traffic from 5 p.m.
Live in the first
The cup semi-final will be broadcast live on Tuesday on Erste from 8:15 p.m. Alex Bommes will be the on-site moderator and football world champion Bastian Schweinsteiger will be at his side as an expert. The game is commented on by Tom Bartels and Thomas Hitzlsperger.
In addition, SR 3 Saarlandwelle will broadcast the game live in overlays, and the entire game can be listened to in the audio stream on “Sportschau live” – on Sportschau.de or in the Sportschau app.
A detailed summary will also be available after the final whistle at SR.de and in the ARD media library.
The SR info Rundschau also reported on this topic on April 2nd, 2024.