Berlin: Werder Bremen were the biggest casualties of the German Cup’s third round after their 3-1 defeat at Arminia Bielefeld on Wednesday as holders Bayern Munich eased into the quarter-finals.
Bielefeld, who are top of the third division, go into the pot for Sunday’s quarter-final draw after shocking ten-man Bremen as midfielder Manuel Junglas became Arminia’s hero with two goals.
Bremen were reduced to ten men when their captain Clemens Fritz was sent off for a second yellow card on 89 minutes, a quarter of an hour after scoring their consolation goal.
“Bielefeld deserved the win, our body language wasn’t okay, which really annoyed me,” said Bremen’s glum coach Viktor Skripnik, whose side are mid-table in the Bundesliga.
“I used a tough tone at half-time but, as everyone could see, it didn’t help.”
Holders Bayern had no such problems as their full strength side beat second-division Eintracht Braunschweig in Munich, but France winger Franck Ribery was lucky not to receive an early red card.
Left-winger Ribery kicked out at Braunschweig right-back Benjamin Kessel after being fouled, but the referee missed the France international’s reaction and booked Kessel instead with six minutes gone.
A superb curling free-kick from Austria defender David Alaba just before the break and a second-half goal from Germany’s World Cup winner Mario Goetze sealed Bayern’s win, their 14th cup win in succession since losing the 2012 final 5-2 to Dortmund.
“I like smacking the ball over the wall, so I am really pleased it worked out so well tonight,” Alaba told Sky Sports. “Braunschweig defended very well for the whole of the first half.”
Borussia Moenchengladbach booked their last-eight berth with a 2-0 win at fourth-division Kickers Offenbach after Germany striker Max Kruse netted a second-half penalty following a handball.
Gladbach’s winger Patrick Herrmann added a second to put the result beyond doubt.
VfL Wolfsburg, who are second in the Bundesliga, enjoyed a 2-0 win at RB Leipzig thanks to goals by midfielder Daniel Caligiuri and defender Tim Klose.
