Berlin is still a long way away. The first step for RBL leads to the banks of the Moselle. On Saturday (18:00 CEST), RB Leipzig will face off against Eintracht Trier in the first competitive fixture of the 2026/27 season. For the Red Bulls, it will be the start of a tournament that has produced a number of stories that will never be forgotten in Leipzig.
On the other hand, our hosts also know exactly what a fairytale run in the cup feels like.
Here are five things you need to know ahead of our encounter with Eintracht Trier.
1. RBL and the DFB-Pokal – a perfect match
We can't wait for the next DFB-Pokal campaign! After all, the past few years have shown that RBL and the DFB-Pokal are a match made in heaven.
Over eight seasons, the Red Bulls have reached the quarter-finals on six occasions. The journey has continued all the way to Berlin four times, and RBL lifted the trophy in 2022 and 2023.
In the past couple of campaigns, Leipzig were thwarted by teams that eventually went on to win the cup. In 2024/25, we lost 3-1 to VfB Stuttgart in the semi-finals, while FC Bayern defeated us 2-0 in the quarter-finals before ultimately coming out on top in the final.
2. Back for the first time in a decade
For Eintracht Trier, Saturday marks the end of a long wait. SVE are back in the first round of the DFB-Pokal for the first time in 2016. Then, it was Borussia Dortmund who visited the Moselstadion and ran out as 3-0 winners.
The last time that Trier progressed beyond the first hurdle is a few years further back. In 2011, the Blues stunned FC St. Pauli 2-1 and booked their spot in the second round in the process. There, they were knocked out by Hamburger SV, but only after extra time.
Currently, Thomas Klasen's side are plying their trade in the Regionalliga Südwest. They've had a mixed start to the new season so far. In their first game, Trier lost 1-0 to SG Barockstadt Fulda-Lehnerz, though they came up with the perfect response last weekend against VfR Mannheim. Trier emerged as 2-1 winners courtesy of a Jonas Singer brace.
3. When Trier were giant killers
Whenever Eintracht Trier and the DFB-Pokal are mentioned in the same breath, sooner or later the 1997/98 season inevitably comes up in conversation.
Back then, the Regionalliga side went on one of the most miraculous cup runs in German football history. After a 2-1 win against SpVgg Unterhaching, reigning UEFA-Cup winners FC Schalke 04 awaited in the second round. Trier ended up emerging victorious, stunning the Knappen 1-0.
And the story didn't end there - in the round of 16, they came up against incumbent Champions League winners Borussia Dortmund. Once more, Eintracht were undeterred by the big name and went on to win 2-1.
In the space of a few weeks, Trier had knocked two reigning continental champions out of the tournament.
After another 1-0 win, this time against Waldorf Mannheim, the underdogs found themselves in the semi-finals. Their dreams of reaching the final came to an end there, as they succumbed to a heartbreaking loss on penalties against MSV Duisberg.
4. Ones to watch
- Christopher Spang (33) is one of the most experienced players in the squad and leads Eintracht on the pitch as club captain. The captain has a wealth of experience in the Regionalliga and has been one of Eintracht's key players for a number of years.
- Jonas Singer has breathed new life into Trier's attack. The 28-year-old arrived from TSV Steinbach in summer and made an instant impact, scoring both goals in the 2-1 win against Mannheim.
- Up front, he is partnered by Damjan Marceta. The 32-year-old has been a Trier player since 2024 and was the club's top scorer in their most recent Regionalliga campaign with ten goals to his name.
5. Micho knows all about the Pokal
Saturday will be Micho's first DFB-Pokal match on the sideline. Our head coach knows all about the DFB-Pokal from his playing days, when he experienced a lot of success in the tournament. With FC Bayern, he won the cup on four occasions: in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
His personal record also speaks for itself. Out of 24 DFB-Pokal matches, Micho won 21 times. Only twice was he part of a team knocked out in the quarters: in 2004, Alemannia Aachen beat Bayern 2-1, while Bayer 04 Leverkusen got the better of the record champions five years later, ultimately winning 4-2.
Jetzt beginnt für den Argentinier eine neue Pokalgeschichte. Diesmal nicht im Bayern-Trikot, sondern an der Seitenlinie der Roten Bullen. Now, it's time for a new DFB-Pokal story for the Argentinian. This time, he's not in an FC Bayern kit, but rather on the sideline for the Red Bulls.
Discover more