A hard-fought win against Union Berlin at the Alten Forsterei lifts Bayern Munich to the Quarterfinals of the DFB-Pokal, the first time in over five years.
Die Roten will have to face their biggest challenge yet on the way back to German cup glory. The draw of fate brings a Bundesliga top-of-the-table clash in a single-elimination game with RB Leipzig.
With Bayern topping the league and Leipzig in second, both teams are considered heavy favourites for the trophy. But now, there will be an early finale in the last eight.
Bayern Munich will host the Quarterfinals on February 3 at the Allianz Arena, which is bound to be the third matchup between the two teams this year.
Bayern have dominated RB Leipzig this season
In the first outing, Vincent Kompany and Bayern had outclassed Ole Werner and the Red Bulls in the Bundesliga season opener. An emphatic 6-0 victory via Harry Kane's hat-trick, Michael Olise's brace, and Luis Diaz's league debut goal was an early sign of Bayern's dominance so far this year.
After the defeat, RB Leipzig has bounced back tremendously under the wings of teenage sensations Yan Diomande and Assan Ouedraogo, as well as experienced veterans like Christopher Baumgartner and David Raum. Die Roten Bullen has a youthful squad full of hunger.
Before facing each other in the DFB-Pokal, RB Leipzig and Bayern will battle it out again in the return leg at Red Bull Arena on January 17. Leipzig will be determined to return the favour and create positive momentum in the title chase and the cup tie.
RB Leipzig has been one of the most prolific teams in the DFB-Pokal in recent memory. They hoisted the title twice in the last five years, in 2022 and 2023. They have been more successful in this competition than Bayern in the recent past.
However, Bayern has also been Leipzig's bogey team in the cup. On the two occasions the clubs have ever faced each other, Bayern has always walked away victorious, including a 3-0 victory in the 2019/20 season final, when Die Roten completed the infamous Treble.
Other DFB-Pokal ties also provide a lot of excitement. The two 2. Bundesliga side Hertha and Holstein Kiel will welcome Freiburg and defending champion Stuttgart, respectively.
Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen will host St. Pauli. This will not be an easy game for Kasper Hjulmand's men. Bayern fans surely know how difficult it was to play against a gritty and disciplined St. Pauli's backline.