These two Bundesliga 2. sides go into battle on Friday, 11th August for a place in the 2nd round of the 2017/18 DFB Pokal. This fixture is back in the second tier of German football after 37 years and Eintracht Braunschweig will be one of the favourites this season after missing out in the play-off match against VfL Wolfsburg last season.
The two clubs faced off many times between 1995 and 2010, playing 14 times in the Regionalliga and then the 3. Liga in 2009/2010. It has been the Niedersachsen side that has been able to celebrate on most occasions, winning eight of their 16 clashes. The Kiel club on the other hand have only won two of those fixtures, the last of which was back in 2005 in the Regionalliga.
Lieberknecht experience with Kiel as player and coach
Kiel captain Rafael Czichos is very much looking forward to this cup clash. “It is a duel between two teams in the same league and we will do everything we can to get through. Our chances in this case are significantly better than if it were against Bayern, Dortmund or Leipzig.” Eintracht’s sporting director is expecting a tricky afternoon. “A cup game against a second division team is always difficult. Playing at the Holstein-Stadion, known for its good atmosphere, will be a challenge for us.”
Interestingly, Eintracht coach Torsten Lieberknecht was on the pitch in a Braunschweig shirt during the last defeat in Kiel, whilst he was then coaching on the sidelines in the 1-1 draw in their last away match at Kiel.
These two Bundesliga 2. sides go into battle on Friday, 11th August for a place in the 2nd round of the 2017/18 DFB Pokal. This fixture is back in the second tier of German football after 37 years and Eintracht Braunschweig will be one of the favourites this season after missing out in the play-off match against VfL Wolfsburg last season.
The two clubs faced off many times between 1995 and 2010, playing 14 times in the Regionalliga and then the 3. Liga in 2009/2010. It has been the Niedersachsen side that has been able to celebrate on most occasions, winning eight of their 16 clashes. The Kiel club on the other hand have only won two of those fixtures, the last of which was back in 2005 in the Regionalliga.
Lieberknecht experience with Kiel as player and coach
Kiel captain Rafael Czichos is very much looking forward to this cup clash. “It is a duel between two teams in the same league and we will do everything we can to get through. Our chances in this case are significantly better than if it were against Bayern, Dortmund or Leipzig.” Eintracht’s sporting director is expecting a tricky afternoon. “A cup game against a second division team is always difficult. Playing at the Holstein-Stadion, known for its good atmosphere, will be a challenge for us.”
Interestingly, Eintracht coach Torsten Lieberknecht was on the pitch in a Braunschweig shirt during the last defeat in Kiel, whilst he was then coaching on the sidelines in the 1-1 draw in their last away match at Kiel.
