Saarbrücken pitch deemed ready for German Cup quarter-final

DPA
·1 min read
A view of the Ludwigsparkstadion in Saarbruecken, a day before the DFB Cup quarter-final soccer match between 1. FC Saarbruecken and Borussia Moenchengladbach. Constant rain and a soaked pitch prevented the cup duel between Saarbruecken and Gladbach from taking place in Saarbruecken's Ludwigspark in February. Katja Sponholz/dpa
A view of the Ludwigsparkstadion in Saarbruecken, a day before the DFB Cup quarter-final soccer match between 1. FC Saarbruecken and Borussia Moenchengladbach. Constant rain and a soaked pitch prevented the cup duel between Saarbruecken and Gladbach from taking place in Saarbruecken's Ludwigspark in February. Katja Sponholz/dpa

The rearranged German Cup quarter-final between third division Saarbrücken and Borussia Mönchengladbach is set to go ahead as planned later on Tuesday, a final pitch inspection by officials has determined.

City council officials in Saarbrücken said they were confident the game would take place, after the pitch was in better shape than Monday in the wake of heavy overnight rainfall.

The match was originally scheduled for February 7 but cancelled shortly before kick-off due to a water-logged pitch. The quality of the Saarbrücken pitch, which has no drainage system, has frequently been discussed.

The inspection Tuesday featured city officials as well as representatives from the Saarbrücken club and the German Football Federation (DFB).

The new surface was to undergo some final repair work before the evening kick-off.

Saarbrücken hope for another upset after ousting record competition winners Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt in the previous rounds. The winner will play second division Kaiserslautern in an April 2 semi-final.