"Don't be blinded": Homburg awaits Saarbrücken for the semi-finals

Heading into the state cup semifinals with optimism: FCH coach Roland Seitz. IMAGO/Hartenfelser

Last year, 1. FC Saarbrücken won the Saarland Cup in the final against FC 08 Homburg ( 2:1 ). This season, the classic will be rematched in the semifinals.

"We're all looking forward to the game. It's the highlight of what has been a mixed season so far," said head coach Roland Seitz. "Everyone knows that the cup has its own rules and what's possible in a home game like this," the 60-year-old hopes for a coup and thus a continued chance of participating in the DFB Cup. "Even if the little team is the underdog at first, there are always surprises," said Seitz.

While Homburg can only qualify for the DFB-Pokal via the Landespokal, FCS, currently third in the 3. Liga, is not dependent on it, as the top four teams in the 3. Liga qualify automatically. Will Saarbrücken conserve energy in the Saarlandpokal against Homburg in favor of the league and the promotion race? "We can't be blinded by what FCS is planning," Seitz emphasized. "Their entire squad is third-division-ready. They'll have a top eleven on the pitch, even if it's not their first eleven," Seitz said.

FCH and Saarbrücken have met in the Saarland State Cup for eight consecutive years, beginning in the 2016/17 season. The Green-Whites won two matches, while FCS won six. The hosts are expecting up to 10,000 spectators for the traditional derby at the Homburger Waldstadion on Tuesday evening (7 p.m.).

Palatia Limbach will surely be watching the match live. The Saarland League team beat Borussia Neunkirchen 6-2 after extra time in the semifinals and is now hoping to face FCS as their final opponent. Because if Saarbrücken secures its ticket to the DFB Cup via the league, Limbach would also qualify for the DFB Cup even if they lose the Saarland Cup final to FCS.