German Cup 2nd Round Preview

The task for Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf will be to keep his players’ feet on the ground as they prepare to take on Erzgebirge Aue.  Following their 5-2 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday, Werder must feel like they can beat anybody.  Aue are clear outsiders sitting as they do second from bottom in the new third division.

The first of two all-Bundesliga clashes sees Energie Cottbus hosting Borussia Mönchengladbach.  Energie trainer Bojan Prasnikar will be looking for a good Cup performance to hand a boost to his side’s flagging league form which has seen them take just two points and score one goal in their first five matches.  Gladbach certainly have good Cup pedigree with three wins (1960, 1973, and 1995).  The Fohlen have taken just one more point than opponents Cottbus in the league so they too will want to win to kick-start their season.

If Werder are clear favourites against Aue, then Bundesliga leaders Schalke also start as the favourites against fellow top flight side Hannover.  The Königsblauen top the table at the moment and host a Hannover side that is in the midst of an injury crisis and who were thrashed 5-0 by Leverkusen on Friday.  Dieter Hecking looks to have only 14 healthy players available to him!

Another struggling Bundesliga side are in action against Hansa Rostock.  Eintracht Frankfurt are second from bottom although they have played a game less than the rest.  However, trainer Friedhelm Funkel knows that his side will have to raise their game against Rostock, who were relegated from the top division last season.  They find themselves in mid-table in the second division and will see a victory over the ‘Adler’ as an important confidence boost in their ultimate quest to return to the Bundesliga.

Mainz, who are unbeaten and second in the second division will be looking to take the scalp of Bundesliga side Köln when the two sides meet on Tuesday.  They were bitter rivals for promotion last season when the Geiβböcke pipped Jürgen Klopp’s side to a place in the top flight.  Christophe Daum however knows his side are in for a tough time of things.

One of the toughest tasks in the second round is faced by Augsburg, who take on the in-form Bayer Leverkusen.  The Werkself have hit 15 goals already this season so the Augsburg defence better be on its guard.  However Bruno Labbadia may decide to give top-scorer Patrick Helmes a rest and play Theofanis Gekas.

The final game from Tuesday’s batch of matches sees 1860 Munich taking on MSV Duisburg.  The Bavarians are struggling somewhat in the second division with four defeats in the first five matches, whereas the Zebras find themselves eighth after a fine start.

Tuesday’s games in full:

Erzgebirge Aue – Werder Bremen

Schalke – Hannover

Energie Cottbus – Bor. Mönchengladbach

Eintracht Frankfurt – Hansa Rostock

Mainz – 1.FC Köln

Augsburg – Bayer Leverkusen

1860 Munich – Duisburg

source: goal.com