Preview: “Another highlight” against Dortmund | OneFootball

Eintracht take on Borussia Dortmund at Deutsche Bank Park on Tuesday evening for a place in the last 16 of the DFB Cup.

Board member for sport Markus Krösche described it as a “cracking draw”, while head coach Dino Toppmöller branded it a “tough but attractive tie”. Both Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund head into the teams’ first DFB Cup meeting since the 2017 final on the back of hard-fought home league victories at the weekend, with the Eagles beating FC St. Pauli 2-0 and BVB triumphing 1-0 over 1. FC Köln.

Borussia flying high

Dortmund have enjoyed an excellent start to the season, winning eight of their 12 games so far in the Bundesliga, the cup and the UEFA Champions League. Niko Kovac’s side have drawn three of those games, with their only defeat a 2-1 loss at Bayern Munich on Bundesliga Matchday 7. They were made to work hard for their place in the second round, though, beating Rot-Weiss Essen 1-0 in their first competitive match of the campaign.

Doan’s barren run against BVB

Ritsu Doan scored twice in Eintracht’s 5-0 first-round victory at FV Engers, but the Eagles’ summer signing hasn’t had much luck against Dortmund in recent years. The Japan international has lost all eight of his encounters with Borussia, all of which came during spells with SC Freiburg and DSC Arminia Bielefeld.

Kovac loves the cup

BVB boss Kovac not only masterminded Eintracht’s first DFB Cup victory in 30 years in 2018, but has also reached at least the last 16 in all six attempts as a head coach – a feat achieved by no other tactician since the turn of the century.

Four on the bounce for Frankfurt?

Eintracht also boast an impressive record in the opening two rounds of the DFB Cup. The Eagles are hoping to make the last 16 for the fourth successive season, which would be their best run since 2000.

Zetterer’s second chance

Eagles goalkeeper Michael Zetterer was between the sticks for Werder Bremen’s 1-0 first-round defeat at beaten 2024/25 finalists Bielefeld, but the 30-year-old has been given a second bite at the cherry after his move to Eintracht.

“Dortmund have the quality to be dangerous in every phase of the game,” Zetterer said. “We need to be wary of that and pick up where we left off against St. Pauli. Defending with heart is going to be even more important against Dortmund. Then we’ll get to enjoy a really brilliant evening in the cup.”

“We’re looking forward to another highlight, another top side,” added Toppmöller ahead of the tie at Deutsche Bank Park. “It’s a cup game and that’s exactly how we want to approach it – it’s ‘do or die’. It has to be a battle, that’s what we want to see.”