Saarbrucken vs Bayer Leverkusen DFB-Pokal Semifinals Odds and Prediction
- Fourth-tier side Saarbrucken take on Germany Bundesliga high-flyers
- Regional league team have beaten two top-flight outfits
- See all odds and best bets for DFB-Pokal semi-final on Tuesday
Germany stages a classic knock-out cup occasion when the minnows of FC Saarbrucken host Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinal of the DFB-Pokal tournament on Tuesday.
Saarbrucken play in the fourth tier of the game in Germany and have not been in action since early March while Leverkusen are presently fifth in the Bundesliga.
The tie was set to be a gala event for the tiny club from the Regionalliga Sudwest league after they eliminated Bundesliga outfits FC Koln and Fortuna Dusseldorf en route to the last four.
But it was postponed from April 21 during the coronavirus shut-down and will now be played behind closed doors.
Understandably, Saarbrucken are massive outsiders for the game at +1250 odds. Leverkusen are priced at -833 with the draw after 90 minutes at +800.
Saarbrucken vs Bayer Leverkusen DFB-Pokal Semifinal Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Saarbrucken | +2½ (-110) | +1250 | Ov 3½,4 (-114) |
| Bayer Leverkusen | -2½ (-110) | -833 | Un 3½,4 (-106) |
| Draw | (N/A) | +800 | (N/A) |
Odds taken Jun. 8
Having overcome two top-flight teams and two from the second tier Bundesliga 2 on their remarkable path towards the final, it is surely worth taking a wide chance on Saarbrucken creating more romance and adding to their notable cup story this season. The unusual circumstances with no crowd present may encourage a surprise, too.
A draw after normal time also offers similar upset value. After all, there is little on offer in choosing Leverkusen. Even a spread bet for them to win by at least three goals offers only -110,
However, the fact that Leverkusen have returned to match sharpness will legislate strongly against this – especially as Saarbrucken have not played for three months.
Against this, injury means Leverkusen may be without their skipper, the German international Lars Bender, and the much-coveted young attacking midfielder Kai Havertz, also a German international.
Last Four History Makers
Saarbrucken are the first team in history from the fourth tier to reach the semifinal of the DFB-Pokal.
The game will be staged at Saarbrucken’s 6,800 capacity Hermann-Neuberger stadium with kick-off at 2:45 pm EST.
Saarbrucken vs Bayer Leverkusen DFB-Pokal Statistics
| 2 | Wins | 4 |
| 0 | Losses | 0 |
| 2 | Draws | 0 |
| 7 | Goals | 10 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 4 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 12 | Yellow Cards | 9 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
*Saarbrucken won two drawn ties on penalties
Leverkusen have played five matches since the Bundesliga resumed action on May 18 while Saarbrucken’s most recent outing was a 1-0 league defeat by FC Astoria Walldorf on March 7.
The Regionalliga Sudwest title was awarded to Saarbrucken when the competition was declared to be over on May 26 during the shut-down.
Saarbrucken pulled off a shock win in the DFB-Pokal Second Round when they scored a 3-2 win at home against Bundesliga side FC Koln.
After 23 fixtures, they led the table by six points from SV Elversberg – with a record of 18 wins, one draw and four defeats.
Up next: #FCSB04
A win on Tuesday would send us to our first DFB Pokal final since 2009! pic.twitter.com/MDbqA06TZi
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) June 8, 2020
Saarbrucken pulled off a shock win in the DFB-Pokal Second Round last October when they scored a 3-2 win at home against Bundesliga side FC Koln.
There was another romantic upset when they won 8-7 in a penalty shoot-out at home in the quarterfinal against another Bundesliga team, Fortuna Dusseldorf. The tie had finished all square at 1-1.
In the first round, they had overcome SSV Jahn Regensberg of Bundesliga 2 with a 3-2 home victory.
Having then overcome FC Koln, they eliminated Karlsruher SC – also of Bundesliga 2 – by winning a penalty shoot-out 5-3 following a 0-0 draw.
Impressive Bundesliga Re-Start
Leverkusen made an impressive return to action after the Bundesliga’s re-start as they chase qualification for the Champions League.
First, they hammered lowly Werder Bremen 4-1 away from home. Then they followed up with a 3-1 victory away against fellow high-flyers Borussia Monchengladbach.
They then slumped to a 4-1 home defeat by Wolfsburg before recovering with a 1-0 win away against Freiburg.
Saarbrucken and Leverkusen have met only twice before when the smaller club were last in the Bundesliga in the 1992/93 season.
There was a 4-2 defeat at home for Leverkusen by Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich in their most recent fixture last Saturday.
Saarbrucken and Leverkusen have met only twice before when the smaller club were last in the Bundesliga in the 1992/93 season.
With the Regionalliga Südwest cancelled, 1. FC Saarbrücken have already secured promotion to the 3. Liga! 👏
It also means preparation for their #DFBPokal semi-final vs. @bayer04_en is different to most. However, they believe it could be an advantage…#FCSB04 pic.twitter.com/IT69Xss5Cj
— The DFB-Pokal (@DFBPokal_EN) May 27, 2020
There was a 3-1 win for Saarbrucken at their HQ and a 1-1 draw at Leverkusen.
The final of the DFB-Pokal will be staged behind-closed-doors at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin before June 30.
Pick: FC Saarbrucken +1250
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
