DFB Cup: FC St. Pauli, Hannover 96 and Karlsruher SC in the quarter

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Union Berlin

is number one in the capital: The fifth-placed Bundesliga team beat local rivals Hertha BSC in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup 3-2 (1-0) and is only two steps away from making the final for the first time since 2001.

The Unioners have never won the competition - and with the eight quarter-finalists they are in good company.

Photo: ANNEGRET HILSE / REUTERS

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,

2-0 (1-0) winner against Hansa Rostock, has never won the DFB Cup in its young club history.

In 2019 and 2021 they had reached the finals in the Berlin Olympic Stadium, but lost to FC Bayern Munich (2019, 0: 3) and Borussia Dortmund (2021, 1: 4).

In contrast to Leipzig, the two top favorites for the title are no longer represented in the competition.

Photo: FILIP SINGER / EPA

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was also

in the final of the DFB Cup twice and lost both appearances.

In 1968 they lost 4-1 to 1. FC Köln, and in 1988 they lost 1-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt.

In the 3-1 (0-1) win over 1. FSV Mainz 05, Miloš Pantović scored twice.

He is currently one of three professionals with four cup goals leading the scorer list, but unlike his direct rivals Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thomas Müller (both Bayern Munich), Pantović is still in the competition.

The chances are good for Bochum to become the first top scorer in the history of the DFB Cup.

Photo: Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto / imago images/Team 2

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's 4-1 (2-0) win

at TSG Hoffenheim.

For the first time since 2015, the team of coach Christian Streich is in the last eight, the Freiburgers only reached the semi-finals once, in 2013.

This means that all the remaining Bundesliga clubs together do not have a single title in the DFB Cup.

Union Berlin can at least come up with a cup victory in the GDR era: In 1968 the Unioner won the final in the FDGB Cup 2-1 (1-1) against FC Carl Zeiss Jena.

Photo: Sascha Meiser / imago images / Jan Huebner

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As one of four second division teams,

has reached the quarter-finals after beating TSV 1860 Munich 1-0 (0-0).

The last time there were so many was in the 2003/2004 season, more have never made it into this round.

And with KSC we also have the first club to have won the DFB Cup: in 1955 (against FC Schalke 04) and 1956 (against Hamburger SV) the Baden team won, and in 1960 and 1996 they made it to the final two more times advanced.

Photo: Sven Leifer / imago images/foto2press

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And the next former title holder:

.

In 1992 the Hanoverians defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach on penalties in the final in Berlin.

30 years later, 90 minutes were enough for them in the round of 16 to knock out the Bundesliga side 3-0 (2-0).

Having won the title in 1992, 96 is also the most recent title holder still in competition.

All winners of the competition from 1993 to 2021 have already been eliminated.

Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

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caused the biggest sensation of the round of 16

.

The leaders of the second division threw Borussia Dortmund 2: 1 (2: 0) out of the competition.

Memories are brought back to the great cup season of 2005/2006, when the club made it to the semi-finals and only there failed at FC Bayern.

Curious: Since then, FC St. Pauli had never made it past the second round, suffering defeats against SV Elversberg, Eintracht Trier and the second team of SV Werder Bremen.

Photo: Dennis Ewert/RHR-FOTO / imago images/RHR-Foto

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The most successful club among the eight remaining in the competition is

: HSV has won the DFB Cup three times (1963, 1976 and 1987), and in the last nine competitions they have made it to the quarter-finals for the fourth time.

However, since their triumph in 1987 (3-1 against Stuttgarter Kickers), they have never made it to Berlin.

These two Hamburg teams have only reached the last eight twice before, in 1966 and 1997. The quarterfinals will be held on March 1st and 2nd, the pairings will be determined on January 30th: The draw will take place in the German Football Museum as part of the "Sportschau" program, which begins at 7:15 p.m.

Photo: UWE KRAFT / imago images/Uwe Kraft