Bayern Munich have been drawn against second-division side 1. FC Magdeburg in the second round of the DFB-Pokal. The match will be played at the Allianz Arena on either October 27 or 28, as reported by FAZ Sport.
This fixture carries a notable piece of history. The two clubs have met twice before in the German Cup. In the 2000/01 season, Magdeburg famously eliminated the German record champions after a penalty shootout. Bayern went on to win the Bundesliga and the Champions League that same season. So the current title holders must be wary of a potential banana skin against the lower-league opposition.
Who conducted the draw?
The draw on Saturday evening at the German Football Museum in Dortmund was conducted by Bastian Schweinsteiger. The Bayern legend and ARD expert acted as the draw official for both the cup ties and the upcoming Bundesliga fixtures. "Bayern-Legende und ARD-Experte Bastian Schweinsteiger zog als Losfee zudem die Bundesliga-Duelle zwischen dem 1." was noted in the coverage.
Schweinsteiger's draw handed Bayern a home tie against the second-tier club. Magdeburg are considered the lowest-ranked team remaining in the pot after the first-round shocks.
What are the other key matches?
The full second-round schedule promises plenty of excitement. Borussia Dortmund will host Werder Bremen in a classic Bundesliga encounter. Bayer Leverkusen face 1. FC Nürnberg, while SC Freiburg take on VfL Wolfsburg. Another highlight is the clash between Hamburger SV and Eintracht Frankfurt.
The biggest surprise of the first round, regional league side SSV Jeddeloh II, who knocked out relegated Bundesliga club 1. FC Heidenheim, were drawn against Hertha BSC. This keeps the dream of another cup fairytale alive. A look at our fixtures page shows the complete schedule for the autumn.
Why is this round significant?
The DFB-Pokal second round is notable for one particular reason this season. For the first time since the 2008/09 campaign, all 18 Bundesliga clubs have advanced past the first round. This shows the top flight's dominance in the early stages and makes upsets like Jeddeloh II's even more remarkable.
The draw produced several all-Bundesliga clashes, including the northern derby between Dortmund and Bremen. Other top teams like RB Leipzig (away at Rot-Weiss Essen) and VfB Stuttgart (away at SC Paderborn) face tricky away trips. The exact kick-off times and TV broadcast details will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can track team form in the build-up via our stats section.
For Bayern Munich, the tie against Magdeburg is the next step in their title defence. The Bavarians are the record champions in the competition by a large margin. Vincent Kompany's side will aim to correct the negative historical record against the East German club. The squad, which can be viewed on our squad page, will play the cup match between two Bundesliga matchdays in late October.
