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A home game in the DFB Cup! FC Bayern host Bundesliga 2 side 1. FC Magdeburg in the second round of the competition on Wednesday evening, (live text and free Web Radio commentary on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app from 20:45 CET). At the Allianz Arena, the Munich side are determined to reach the round of 16 and take the next step towards defending the trophy. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the clash in our preview.
The best photos from Tuesday’s final training session:
Latest news from FC Bayern
It's been a few eventful days at FC Bayern, though one positive highlight has outshone everything else: Harry Kane has won the Ballon d’Or, making him the first player from the German record champions in 45 years to receive this special award. The England striker’s accolade was met with great celebrations at FC Bayern – and came just one day after another extraordinary success for the team. Despite facing a number of setbacks, the Munich side secured a 3–1 win in the Bundesliga top-of-the-table clash against strong rivals SC Freiburg, in what was an electric atmosphere.
Not only did the team have to go into the game without head coach Vincent Kompany, who was absent due to illness, but they also had to cope without several other players, who were sidelined. This made board member for sport Max Eberl appreciate the victory in the Breisgau region all the more. He said that, given the current situation, it was “worth more than just the three points”. The team demonstrated unity, resilience and sporting quality – and they remain the only side in Europe’s top five leagues who are still unbeaten this season.
It's a highlight for Magdeburg. We'll need to match the energy we've brought recently to show what we’re capable of
Aaron Danks
Now, in the DFB Cup, second-tier side 1. FC Magdeburg await the reigning cup holders. Aaron Danks, who currently shoulders the main responsibility in the dugout, made it clear that the celebrations surrounding Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or have not shifted the focus away from the next task. “Everyone who was at the Ballon d’Or enjoyed the moment. But our focus is on the match,” stressed the Englishman. “It’s a cup tie; we know how much joy the cup brought us last season.” The competition’s supposed ‘unwritten rule' (that anything can happen in a knockout game) must therefore under no circumstances be allowed to come into play on Wednesday: “It's a highlight for Magdeburg. We'll need to match the energy we've brought recently to show what we’re capable of,” said Danks.
Read the key statements from the pre-match press conference here:
Team news
For Manuel Neuer (tendon strain in his foot) and Jamal Musiala (torn muscle fibre), the match against Magdeburg is “still a bit too early”, as Danks confirmed during the press conference. On the other hand, Minjae Kim and Aleksandar Pavlović, who both missed the recent match in Freiburg, could be available again. Joshua Kimmich will also continue to be given time off following a family bereavement.
The facts on the cup game:
The opposition: 1. FC Magdeburg
1. FC Magdeburg are heading to Munich’s Allianz Arena on the back of two record-breaking wins. In the first round of the cup, the team from Saxony-Anhalt celebrated their biggest-ever win in the competition with a 4–0 victory over Balinger SC, which also saw them progress past the first round of the cup for the second year running. Last weekend, FCM then defeated Karlsruher SC 6–1 at home, securing the biggest win in the club’s history in the second tier. No wonder, then, that the Magdeburg men are brimming with confidence as they prepare to take on FC Bayern.
We don’t need to talk about Bayern Munich’s quality. A lot of things will have to come together for us to have a successful night there.
Petrik Sander (1. FC Magdeburg coach)
“It’s important that we stay true to ourselves and believe in ourselves and what makes us strong. We don’t need to talk about Bayern Munich’s quality. A lot of things will have to come together for us to have a successful night there,” explained FCM head coach Petrik Sander. However, he added that his team “are capable of achieving that in a cup game, whether it’s over 90 minutes or 120 minutes, against any opponent. There are hundreds upon hundreds of examples of this.” One such example, for instance, was Bayern’s cup exit in Magdeburg 26 years ago – a scenario the Munich side must now ensure does not repeat itself.
The lowdown on our opponents:
Magedeburg team news
The visitors will still be missing Lubambo Musonda (torn Achilles tendon) in Munich. According to FCM, it's “highly unlikely” that Momo Kwarteng will feature in the game.
Check out your knowledge of the fixture in ourMatchday Quiz:
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