2024–25 DFB-Pokal

(Redirected from 2024-25 DFB-Pokal)

The 2024–25 DFB-Pokal is the 82nd season of the annual German football cup competition. Sixty-four teams participate in the competition, including all teams from the previous year's Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. The competition began on 16 August 2024 with the first of six rounds and will end on 24 May 2025 with the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, a nominally neutral venue, which has hosted the final since 1985.[1] The DFB-Pokal is considered the second-most important club title in German football after the Bundesliga championship. The DFB-Pokal is run by the German Football Association (DFB).

2024–25 DFB-Pokal
Tournament details
CountryGermany
Venue(s)Olympiastadion, Berlin
Dates16 August 2024 – 24 May 2025
Teams64
Tournament statistics
Matches played55
Goals scored188 (3.42 per match)
Attendance1,252,701 (22,776 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Four players
(3 goals each)
2025–26  →

All statistics correct as of 4 December 2024.
Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs not included.

Bayer Leverkusen are the defending champions.

The winner of the DFB-Pokal earns automatic qualification for the group stage of the 2025–26 edition of the UEFA Europa League. If they have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League through position in the Bundesliga, then the spot will go to the team in sixth, and the league's UEFA Conference League play-off round spot will go to the team in seventh. The winners will also host the 2025 edition of the DFL-Supercup at the start of the next season, and will face the champions of the 2024–25 Bundesliga.

Participating clubs

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The following teams qualified for the competition:

Bundesliga
the 18 clubs of the 2023–24 season
2. Bundesliga
the 18 clubs of the 2023–24 season
3. Liga
the top 4 clubs of the 2023–24 season
Representatives of the regional associations
24 representatives of 21 regional associations of the DFB, qualified (in general) through the 2023–24 Verbandspokal[note 1]

Baden

Bavaria[note 2]

Berlin

Brandenburg

Bremen

Hamburg

Hesse

Lower Rhine

Lower Saxony[note 4]

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Middle Rhine

Rhineland

Saarland

Saxony

Saxony-Anhalt

Schleswig-Holstein

South Baden

Southwest

Thuringia

Westphalia[note 6]

Württemberg

Format

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Participation

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The DFB-Pokal began with a round of 64 teams. The 36 teams of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, along with the top four finishers of the 3. Liga automatically qualified for the tournament. Of the remaining slots, 21 were given to the cup winners of the regional football associations, the Verbandspokal. The three remaining slots were given to the three regional associations with the most men's teams, which were Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Westphalia. The best-placed amateur team of the Regionalliga Bayern was given the spot for Bavaria. For Lower Saxony, the Lower Saxony Cup was split into two paths: one for 3. Liga and Regionalliga Nord teams, and the other for amateur teams. The winners of each path qualified. For Westphalia, the spot rotated each season between the best-placed Westphalian team of the Regionalliga West and the best-placed amateur team of the Oberliga Westfalen. For the 2024–25 DFB-Pokal, this spot was awarded to a team from the Oberliga. As every team was entitled to participate in local tournaments which qualified for the association cups, every team could in principle compete in the DFB-Pokal. Reserve teams and combined football sections were not permitted to enter, along with no two teams of the same association or corporation.[3]

Draw

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The draws for the different rounds are conducted as follows:[3]

For the first round, the participating teams were split into two pots of 32 teams each. The first pot contained all teams which qualified through their regional cup competitions, the best four teams of the 3. Liga, and the bottom four teams of the 2. Bundesliga. Every team from this pot was drawn to a team from the second pot, which contained all remaining professional teams (all the teams of the Bundesliga and the remaining fourteen 2. Bundesliga teams). The teams from the first pot were set as the home team in the process.

The two-pot scenario was also applied for the second round, with the remaining 3. Liga and/or amateur team(s) in the first pot and the remaining Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga teams in the other pot. Once again, the 3. Liga and/or amateur team(s) served as hosts. This time the pots did not have to be of equal size though, depending on the results of the first round. Theoretically, it was even possible that there could be only one pot, if all of the teams from one of the pots from the first round beat all the others in the second pot. Once one pot was empty, the remaining pairings were drawn from the other pot, with the first-drawn team for a match serving as hosts.

For the remaining rounds, the draw will be conducted from just one pot. Any remaining 3. Liga and/or amateur team(s) will be the home team if drawn against a professional team. In every other case, the first-drawn team will serve as hosts.

Match rules

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Teams meet in one game per round. Matches take place for 90 minutes, with two halves of 45 minutes each. If still tied after regulation, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, consisting of two periods of 15 minutes each. If the score is still level after this, the match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. A coin toss will decide who takes the first penalty.[3][4] A maximum of nine players can be listed on the substitute bench, while a maximum of five substitutions are allowed. However, each team is only given three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.[5] From the round of 16 onward, a video assistant referee will be appointed for all DFB-Pokal matches. Though technically possible, VAR was not used for home matches of Bundesliga clubs prior to the round of 16 in order to provide a uniform approach to all matches.[6]

Suspensions

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If a player receives five yellow cards in the competition, he will then be suspended from the next cup match. Similarly, receiving a second yellow card suspends a player from the next cup match. If a player receives a direct red card, they will be suspended a minimum of one match, but the German Football Association reserves the right to increase the suspension.[3]

International qualification

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The winners of the DFB-Pokal earn automatic qualification for the league phase of next season's edition of the UEFA Europa League. If they have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League through position in the Bundesliga, then the spot will go to the team in sixth place, and the league's UEFA Conference League play-off round spot will go to the team in seventh place. The winners will also host the DFL-Supercup at the start of the next season, and will face the champions of the previous year's Bundesliga, unless the same team wins the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, completing a double. In that case, the runners-up of the Bundesliga will take the spot and host instead.

Schedule

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The Olympiastadion in Berlin will host the final.

All draws will generally be held on a Sunday evening after each round (unless noted otherwise).[7]

The rounds of the 2024–25 competition are scheduled as follows:[1]

Round Draw date Matches
First round 1 June 2024 16–19 August & 27–28 August 2024
Second round 1 September 2024 29–30 October 2024
Round of 16 3 November 2024 3–4 December 2024
Quarter-finals 8 December 2024 4–5 February & 25–26 February 2025
Semi-finals 2 March 2025 1–2 April 2025
Final 24 May 2025 at Olympiastadion, Berlin

Matches

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Times up to 27 October 2024 and from 30 March 2025 are CEST (UTC+2). Times from 28 October 2024 to 29 March 2025 are CET (UTC+1).

First round

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The draw took place on 23 June 2024, with Nils Petersen drawing the matches.[8][9] Thirty of the thirty-two matches took place from 16 to 19 August 2024. The remaining two matches, involving the participants of the 2024 DFL-Supercup (played on 17 August), took place on 27 and 28 August 2024.

16 August 2024 (2024-08-16) Würzburger Kickers2–2 (a.e.t.)
(3–5 p)
TSG Hoffenheim Würzburg
18:00
Report
Stadium: Akon Arena
Attendance: 9,511
Referee: Martin Petersen
Penalties
16 August 2024 (2024-08-16) Wehen Wiesbaden1–3 (a.e.t.) Mainz 05 Wiesbaden
18:00
Report
Stadium: BRITA-Arena
Attendance: 12,500
Referee: Richard Hempel
16 August 2024 (2024-08-16) Hallescher FC2–3 (a.e.t.) FC St. Pauli Halle
18:00
Report
Stadium: Leuna-Chemie-Stadion
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Daniel Siebert
16 August 2024 (2024-08-16) SSV Ulm0–4 Bayern Munich Ulm
20:45 Report
Stadium: Donaustadion
Attendance: 17,400
Referee: Sven Jablonski
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) Schott Mainz0–2 Greuther Fürth Mainz
13:00 Report
Stadium: Bruchwegstadion
Attendance: 4,235
Referee: Felix Prigan
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) Erzgebirge Aue1–3 Borussia Mönchengladbach Aue
13:00
Report
Stadium: Erzgebirgsstadion
Attendance: 14,811
Referee: Florian Badstübner
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) Greifswalder FC0–1 Union Berlin Greifswald
15:30 Report
Stadium: Volksstadion Greifswald
Attendance: 4,990
Referee: Lukas Benen
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) FC 08 Villingen0–4 1. FC Heidenheim Villingen
15:30 Report
Stadium: MS-Technologie-Arena
Attendance: 6,800
Referee: Fabienne Michel
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) Rot-Weiss Essen1–4 RB Leipzig Essen
15:30
Report
Stadium: Stadion an der Hafenstraße
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: Christian Dingert
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) FC Ingolstadt1–2 1. FC Kaiserslautern Ingolstadt
15:30
Report
Stadium: Audi Sportpark
Attendance: 11,655
Referee: Robin Braun
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) VfR Aalen0–2 Schalke 04 Aalen
15:30 Report
Stadium: Städtisches Waldstadion
Attendance: 10,850
Referee: Felix Brych
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) VfL Osnabrück0–4 SC Freiburg Osnabrück
15:30 Report
Stadium: Stadion an der Bremer Brücke
Attendance: 15,500
Referee: Tobias Reichel
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) Alemannia Aachen2–3 Holstein Kiel Aachen
18:00
Report
Stadium: Tivoli
Attendance: 29,555
Referee: Michael Bacher
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) Arminia Bielefeld 2–0Hannover 96Bielefeld
18:00
Report Stadium: Schüco-Arena
Attendance: 26,044
Referee: Robert Hartmann
17 August 2024 (2024-08-17) Phönix Lübeck1–4 Borussia Dortmund Hamburg
18:00
Report
Stadium: Volksparkstadion
Attendance: 50,971
Referee: Max Burda
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) Viktoria Berlin1–4 FC Augsburg Berlin
13:00 Liu   4' Report
Stadium: Stadion Lichterfelde
Attendance: 5,504
Referee: Eric Weisbach
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) 1. FC Saarbrücken1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–5 p)
1. FC Nürnberg Saarbrücken
13:00 Brünker   80' Report Ševčík   12' Stadium: Ludwigsparkstadion
Attendance: 14,868
Referee: Bastian Dankert
Penalties
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) Teutonia Ottensen1–3 Darmstadt 98 Hamburg
15:30 Stark   49' Report
Stadium: Millerntor-Stadion
Attendance: 6,487
Referee: Florian Lechner
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) Jahn Regensburg 1–0VfL BochumRegensburg
15:30 Ballas   70' Report Stadium: Jahnstadion Regensburg
Attendance: 12,581
Referee: Florian Heft
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) Bremer SV0–4 SC Paderborn Bremen
15:30 Report
Stadium: Stadion am Panzenberg
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Martin Speckner
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) VfV Hildesheim0–7 SV Elversberg Hildesheim
15:30 Report
Stadium: Friedrich-Ebert-Stadion
Attendance: 5,186
Referee: Assad Nouhoum
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) SV Sandhausen2–3 (a.e.t.) 1. FC Köln Sandhausen
15:30
Report
Stadium: GP Stadion am Hardtwald
Attendance: 9,705
Referee: Benjamin Brand
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) Hansa Rostock1–5 Hertha BSC Rostock
15:30 Berisha   46' Report
Stadium: Ostseestadion
Attendance: 25,600
Referee: Robert Schröder
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) Dynamo Dresden 2–0Fortuna DüsseldorfDresden
18:00
Report Stadium: Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion
Attendance: 29,660
Referee: Sascha Stegemann
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) Sportfreunde Lotte0–5 Karlsruher SC Lotte
18:00 Report
Stadium: Stadion am Lotter Kreuz
Attendance: 4,637
Referee: Konrad Oldhafer
18 August 2024 (2024-08-18) SV Meppen1–7 Hamburger SV Meppen
18:00
Report
Stadium: Hänsch-Arena
Attendance: 12,959
Referee: Felix Zwayer
19 August 2024 (2024-08-19) Energie Cottbus1–3 Werder Bremen Cottbus
18:00 Rorig   70' Report Topp   32', 37', 55' Stadium: Stadion der Freundschaft
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Harm Osmers
19 August 2024 (2024-08-19) TuS Koblenz0–1 VfL Wolfsburg Koblenz
18:00 Report Wimmer   15' Stadium: Stadion Oberwerth
Attendance: 9,447
Referee: Sören Storks
19 August 2024 (2024-08-19) Kickers Offenbach 2–11. FC MagdeburgOffenbach
18:00
Report Kaars   54' Stadium: Stadion am Bieberer Berg
Attendance: 16,847
Referee: Patrick Alt
19 August 2024 (2024-08-19) Eintracht Braunschweig1–4 Eintracht Frankfurt Braunschweig
20:45
Report
Stadium: Eintracht-Stadion
Attendance: 21,201
Referee: Florian Exner
27 August 2024 (2024-08-27) Preußen Münster0–5 VfB Stuttgart Münster
20:45 Report
Stadium: Preußenstadion
Attendance: 12,672
Referee: Matthias Jöllenbeck
28 August 2024 (2024-08-28) Carl Zeiss Jena0–1 Bayer Leverkusen Jena
18:00 Report
Stadium: Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Tobias Welz

Second round

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The draw took place on 1 September 2024, with Sonja Greinacher drawing the matches.[10][11] The matches took place on 29 and 30 October 2024.

29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) Bayer Leverkusen 3–0SV ElversbergLeverkusen
18:00
Report Stadium: BayArena
Attendance: 29,787
Referee: Benjamin Brand
29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) Kickers Offenbach0–2 Karlsruher SC Offenbach
18:00 Report
Stadium: Stadion am Bieberer Berg
Attendance: 20,071
Referee: Lars Erbst
29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) FC Augsburg 3–0Schalke 04Augsburg
18:00
Report Stadium: WWK Arena
Attendance: 27,511
Referee: Frank Willenborg
29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) RB Leipzig 4–2FC St. PauliLeipzig
18:00
Report
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 40,478
Referee: Felix Zwayer
29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) VfB Stuttgart 2–11. FC KaiserslauternStuttgart
20:45
Report
Stadium: MHPArena
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Daniel Schlager
29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) 1. FC Köln 3–0Holstein KielCologne
20:45
Report Stadium: RheinEnergieStadion
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Bastian Dankert
29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) VfL Wolfsburg 1–0 (a.e.t.)Borussia DortmundWolfsburg
20:45
Report Stadium: Volkswagen Arena
Attendance: 24,806
Referee: Daniel Siebert
29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) Jahn Regensburg 1–0Greuther FürthRegensburg
20:45
Report Stadium: Jahnstadion Regensburg
Attendance: 11,627
Referee: Tom Bauer
30 October 2024 (2024-10-30) SC Freiburg 2–1Hamburger SVFreiburg
18:00
Report
Stadium: Europa-Park Stadion
Attendance: 34,500
Referee: Felix Brych
30 October 2024 (2024-10-30) Hertha BSC 2–11. FC HeidenheimBerlin
18:00
Report
Stadium: Olympiastadion
Attendance: 44,135
Referee: Robert Kampka
30 October 2024 (2024-10-30) Eintracht Frankfurt 2–1Borussia MönchengladbachFrankfurt
18:00
Report
Stadium: Deutsche Bank Park
Attendance: 58,000
Referee: Matthias Jöllenbeck
30 October 2024 (2024-10-30) SC Paderborn0–1 Werder Bremen Paderborn
18:00 Report
Stadium: Home Deluxe Arena
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Max Burda
30 October 2024 (2024-10-30) Arminia Bielefeld 2–0Union BerlinBielefeld
20:45
Report Stadium: Schüco-Arena
Attendance: 26,117
Referee: Wolfgang Haslberger
30 October 2024 (2024-10-30) TSG Hoffenheim 2–11. FC NürnbergSinsheim
20:45
Report
Stadium: PreZero Arena
Attendance: 18,001
Referee: Timo Gerach
30 October 2024 (2024-10-30) Dynamo Dresden2–3 (a.e.t.) Darmstadt 98 Dresden
20:45
Report
Stadium: Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion
Attendance: 30,070
Referee: Tobias Stieler
30 October 2024 (2024-10-30) Mainz 050–4 Bayern Munich Mainz
20:45 Report
Stadium: Mewa Arena
Attendance: 33,305
Referee: Sascha Stegemann

Round of 16

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The draw took place on 3 November 2024, with André Schnura [de] and Rudi Völler drawing the matches.[12][13] The matches will take place on 3 and 4 December 2024.

3 December 2024 (2024-12-03) Arminia Bielefeld 3–1SC FreiburgBielefeld
18:00
Report
Stadium: Schüco-Arena
Attendance: 26,311
Referee: Frank Willenborg
3 December 2024 (2024-12-03) Jahn Regensburg0–3 VfB Stuttgart Regensburg
18:00 Report
Stadium: Jahnstadion Regensburg
Attendance: 15,210
Referee: Florian Badstübner
3 December 2024 (2024-12-03) Bayern Munich0–1 Bayer Leverkusen Munich
20:45 Report
Stadium: Allianz Arena
Attendance: 75,000
Referee: Harm Osmers
3 December 2024 (2024-12-03) Werder Bremen 1–0Darmstadt 98Bremen
20:45
Report Stadium: Weserstadion
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Martin Petersen
4 December 2024 (2024-12-04) 1. FC Köln 2–1 (a.e.t.)Hertha BSCCologne
18:00
Report
Stadium: RheinEnergieStadion
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Tobias Reichel
4 December 2024 (2024-12-04) VfL Wolfsburg 3–0TSG HoffenheimWolfsburg
18:00
Report Stadium: Volkswagen Arena
Attendance: 13,909
Referee: Daniel Schlager
4 December 2024 (2024-12-04) RB Leipzig 3–0Eintracht FrankfurtLeipzig
20:45
Report Stadium: Red Bull Arena
Attendance: 37,187
Referee: Sven Jablonski
4 December 2024 (2024-12-04) Karlsruher SC2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)
FC Augsburg Karlsruhe
20:45
Report
Stadium: Wildparkstadion
Attendance: 28,422
Referee: Tobias Stieler
Penalties

Quarter-finals

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The matches will take place between 4 and 26 February 2025.

Qualified teams

Semi-finals

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The matches will take place on 1 and 2 April 2025.

Final

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The final take place on 24 May 2025.

Top goalscorers

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As of 4 December 2024[14]

The following are the top scorers of the DFB-Pokal, sorted first by number of goals, and then alphabetically if necessary. Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs are not included.

Rank Player Team Goals
1   Maximilian Breunig 1. FC Heidenheim 3
  Hugo Ekitike Eintracht Frankfurt
  Samuel Essende FC Augsburg
  Jamal Musiala Bayern Munich
  Loïs Openda RB Leipzig
  Keke Topp Werder Bremen
  Nick Woltemade VfB Stuttgart
8 21 players 2

Notes

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  1. ^ The three regions with the most participating teams in their league competitions (Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Westphalia) were allowed to enter two teams for the competition.
  2. ^ In addition to the Bavarian Cup winners, the best-placed amateur team of the Regionalliga Bayern also qualifies.
  3. ^ FC Ingolstadt qualified regardless of the outcome of the final of the Bavarian Cup, as Würzburger Kickers, the other finalists, already qualified for the DFB-Pokal through their Regionalliga Bayern position.
  4. ^ The Lower Saxony Cup was split into two paths: one for 3. Liga and Regionalliga Nord teams, and the other for amateur teams. The winners of each path qualify.
  5. ^ Erzgebirge Aue qualified regardless of the outcome of the final of the Saxony Cup, as Dynamo Dresden, the other finalists, already qualified for the DFB-Pokal through their 3. Liga position.
  6. ^ In addition to the Westphalian Cup winners, the best-placed amateur team of the Oberliga Westfalen also qualifies.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rahmenterminkalender für Saison 2024/2025 beschlossen". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Oberliga Staffeltag: Entscheidungsspiel um den DFB-Pokal-Platz wird abgeschafft" [Oberliga season day: Decisive game for the DFB-Pokal place is abolished]. FLVW.de (in German). Westphalian Football and Athletics Association. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Modus" [Mode]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Spielordnung/Schiedsrichterordnung" [Match rules/referee rules] (PDF). DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 30 September 2022. sec. 46, par. 2.1.2 (p. 77). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Durchführungsbestimmungen zur DFB-Spielordnung und weitere Richtlinien" [Implementing regulations for the DFB match regulations and other guidelines] (PDF). DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 1 February 2023. par. 30–31 (pp. 26–27). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Pokal ab Achtelfinale mit Video-Assistent" [Pokal from round of 16 with VAR]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Kehl lost erste Runde in der ARD aus" [Kehl draws the first round on ARD]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Nils Petersen lost erste Pokalrunde aus". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Carl Zeiss Jena empfängt Leverkusen, FC Bayern zu Gast bei Ulm". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Olympiasiegerin Greinacher lost zweite Runde aus". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Vier Bundesligaduelle in der 2. Pokalrunde". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Rudi Völler Ziehungsleiter für Achtelfinalauslosung im DFB-Pokal". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  13. ^ "DFB-Pokal: FC Bayern im Achtelfinale gegen Leverkusen". DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  14. ^ "DFB-Pokal – Torjäger 2024/25" [DFB-Pokal: Goalscorers 2024–25]. kicker.de (in German). kicker-sportmagazin. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
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