Freiburg vs. Darmstadt: DFB Cup LIVE blog and team news

Freiburg will be hoping it's a case of third time lucky when they face Bundesliga 2 outfit Darmstadt in the DFB Cup last 16 on Wednesday (kick-off 6pm CET), having lost both previous cup meetings against them.

Freiburg have been somewhat hit and miss this season, mixing positive results against big teams with some surprising defeats.

The Breisgau outfit come into this game as favourites - particularly after their thumping Matchday 12 victory over Mainz on Sunday - but they have been knocked out of the cup by the Lilies twice before, slipping to a 3-0 defeat in the 1984/85 first round before a penalty shoot-out loss in the 2001/02 second round.

Watch: Freiburg 4-0 Mainz - highlights

Veteran defender Matthias Ginter, though, is confident his side can build on Sunday's 4-0 victory and book their place in the quarter-finals. "After losing our first two [league] games, we're happy that we're approaching the position we've occupied in recent years," he said. "We're in the DFB Cup and the UEFA Europa League. We still have five games before Christmas and they will all be important."

However, Ginter and his team-mates won't have an easy time against a Darmstadt side who strengthened their position in the Bundesliga 2 promotion race with a goalless draw at Elversberg on Sunday.

"It was a high-quality game,” head coach Florian Kohlfeldt said of his team's display. "I'm a little sad that we missed out on the win against one of the best home teams in the league, but above all, I'm very satisfied with our performance and with the point."

LIVE blog!

VS

Freiburg

Wed, 03.12 17:00

Darmstadt

DFB Pokal
Round of 16 Round of 16 Europa-Park Stadion

2:03

Watch: Darmstadt 0-1 Freiburg - previous meeting

Here are the highlights from Freiburg's 1-0 win when the two sides last met.

Head to head

These two have a pretty even record against each other, with their 32 meetings in all competitions resulting in 12 Freiburg wins, 11 Darmstadt victories and nine draws. Their two previous DFB Cup games have both been won by Darmstadt; 6-4 on penalties in the 2001/02 second round and 3-0 in the first round of 1984/85. Freiburg did win the last meeting 1-0, that came in the top-flight in April 2024.

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

2:03

Watch: Freiburg 4-0 Mainz - highlights

Freiburg, meanwhile, were on the move at the weekend, courtesy of a handsome 4-0 win over Mainz. They're now eighth as a result and within six points of the European places.

2:14

Watch: Elversberg 0-0 Darmstadt - highlights

Darmstadt head to Freiburg on the back of a goalless draw at Elversberg on Sunday. A win for the visitors would have put Darmstadt second in the table.

How Freiburg got here

Freiburg also faced fourth-tier opposition in the first round of the cup. The Bundesliga side travelled to Sportfreunde Lotte on the opening day and won 2-0. In the second round, Freiburg beat Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-1 away from home thanks to goals from Igor Matanović, Vincenzo Grifo and Derry Scherhant.

© IMAGO/Revierfoto

How Darmstadt got here

In the first round, Darmstadt overcame fourth-tier VfB Lübeck 2-1 thanks to goals from Matej Maglica and Fraser Hornby. In the second round, Darmstadt pulled off one of the results of the round as they thrashed fellow Bundesliga 2 promotion-chasers Schalke 4-0 at home.

© IMAGO/Heiko Blatterspiel

Welcome!

Welcome and thank you for joining us for build-up and live coverage of the DFB Cup Round of 16 match between SC Freiburg and Darmstadt. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. CET on Wednesday.

About the clubs

Sport-Club Freiburg

Europa-Park Stadion

SV Darmstadt 98

Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor