As the international break left the three national leagues paused, regional cup competitions took center stage across Germany, bringing thrilling matchups and surprising results. The weekend of March 22, 2025, saw several intense battles in the Verbandspokal tournaments, with teams vying for a place in the finals.
In the Saarland Cup, the first semifinalist emerged as the 1. FC Saarbrücken faced off against SV Merchweiler. Initially, the third-division team Saarbrücken took an early 2-0 lead, a position that should have assured their victory. However, Merchweiler, a sixth-division team, fought back and equalized right after halftime. Ultimately, an own goal from the hosts sent Saarbrücken to a 3-2 win, allowing them to advance to the semifinals. As the first team to secure a semifinal spot, they join the ranks of FC 08 Homburg, SV Auersmacher, FC Hertha Wiesbach, FC Palatia Limbach, FSV Jägersburg, and VfB Borussia Neunkirchen, all of whom still hope to claim victory in the cup.
Sunday’s fixtures featured a compelling city derby in Leipzig, where Chemie Leipzig faced the 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig in the Sachsen Cup quarter-final. The 1. FC Lok, who last won the cup in 2023, and Chemie, champions in 2018, showed their skills in a gripping encounter, though details of the outcome remain closely watched as both clubs are well aware of the stakes involved. Other teams in the Sachsen Cup include FC Erzgebirge Aue, FC Grimma, FV Dresden Laubegast, and VfB Empor Glauchau, all hunting for the prestigious title.
Meanwhile, in the Sachsen-Anhalt Cup, the Hallescher FC took on VfL Halle. This match promised tension, as either Magdeburg or Hallescher FC had claimed the cup every year since 2005. In this year’s tournament, Hallescher remains a strong contender with plenty of talent on display.
The Brandenburg Cup also saw its share of drama, with Energie Cottbus, last year’s champion, unexpectedly eliminated by RSV Eintracht Stahnsdorf in a penalty shootout after a scoreless game ended in a nail-biting finish. Stahnsdorf’s goalkeeper Daniel Hemicker shone bright, saving three penalties to secure a place in the final. Their opponent will be VfB Krieschow, who clinched a victory against FSV Luckenwalde with a score of 2-1, setting the stage for an intense final on May 24 in Neuruppin.
In the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Cup, the FC Hansa Rostock faced off against Greifswalder SV amid high expectations. This match stands as a testament to Rostock's pursuit of a title, with several lower-tier teams also still in contention for the cup crown.
The Badischer Pokal featured another exciting matchup as VfR Gommersdorf faced 1. FC Sandhausen. Sandhausen, a third-division team, aimed to secure their spot in the finals against underdog Gommersdorf, creating an intriguing David versus Goliath scenario.
As the Bavarian Cup played out, FC Ingolstadt competed against FV Illertissen, while Eintracht Bamberg clashed with SpVgg Unterhaching. The outcomes of these matches could potentially determine who earns their ticket to the DFB-Pokal next season, making every game crucial for these clubs.
In Thüringen, the regional powerhouse FC Carl Zeiss Jena was shockingly defeated by ZFC Meuselwitz in the semifinal of the Thüringen Cup. René Eckardt scored the only goal with a stunning strike from 23 meters. Jena had previously won this title five consecutive times but struggled against the home side, ultimately losing 1-0.
Furthermore, the Niederrhein-Pokal showcased traditional clubs like MSV Duisburg and Rot-Weiß Oberhausen, both gunning to etch their names deeper into the annals of their club history. With Union Nettetal having already eliminated a Regionalliga team in the previous quarter-final, all bets seem to be off.
Finally, the Berlin Cup remains competitive with clubs like BFC Dynamo and VSG Altglienicke among the frontrunners as they fight for supremacy in the capital city. These clubs feature in interesting matchups that could influence their season going forward.
As teams continue to battle in their respective cups, fans eagerly await the finals and how these competitions may affect the coming season's DFB-Pokal. As the drama unfolds weekend after weekend, it is clear that the spirit of competition is alive and well throughout Germany’s regional tournaments.
