BERLIN, April 21 (Xinhua) -- German football turns its attention to the national Cup semifinals this week, starting with Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich visiting Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday evening.
The clash in Leverkusen will be followed on Thursday by a more regional affair between Cup holder VfB Stuttgart and SC Freiburg, who reached the Europa League semifinals in 2026.
Bayern, fresh from securing its 35th league title last weekend, is now pursuing a treble, while Leverkusen sees this as its last realistic chance for silverware this season.
Leverkusen coached by Kasper Hjulmand has struggled for consistency, and a win over the in-form Bavarians could prove a turning point for Bayer.
With Freiburg having already enjoyed a historic run in Europe, Stuttgart faces a difficult task at home.
While the team coached by Sebastian Hoeness is seeking to defend last year's Cup title, Freiburg is making progress on several fronts.
Its league form could yet secure qualification for European competition, while the Europa League and the Cup offer further routes into continental football.
Winning the Europa League would take Freiburg into next season's Champions League group stage.
The team coached by Julian Schuster faces Portuguese side Braga in the last four, while Nottingham meets Aston Villa in the other semifinal.
While Bayern and Stuttgart are seen as the favorites, surprises have been part of the German Cup since its inception in 1952. ■
