2021 DFB-Pokal final
 Match programme cover | |||||||
| Event | 2020–21 DFB-Pokal | ||||||
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| Date | 13 May 2021 | ||||||
| Venue | Olympiastadion, Berlin | ||||||
| Referee | Felix Brych (Munich)[1] | ||||||
| Attendance | 0[note 1] | ||||||
The 2021 DFB-Pokal Final will decide the winner of the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal, the 78th season of the annual German football cup competition. The match will be played on Thursday, 13 May 2021 (on the Feast of the Ascension, a German public holiday) at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.[3][4] The match was originally scheduled for Saturday, 22 May 2021,[5] but was moved to an earlier date prior to the completion of the league season in Germany. This was due to fixture density caused by the late start of the season, originating from the postponement of the end of the previous season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As with other competitions, the match will be played behind closed doors without any spectators.[2]
The match will feature RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.
Due to the scheduling change, the match will be the first DFB-Pokal final since 2008 to be played prior to the end of the league season, and the first final since 1985 to not be played on a Saturday. It is also the first final to be played on a Thursday – as well as the first not played on a weekend – since 1984.[3]
The winner will host the 2021 edition of the DFL-Supercup at the start of the following season, and will face the champion of the 2020–21 edition of the Bundesliga. The winner of the DFB-Pokal also earns automatic qualification for the group stage of the 2020–21 edition of the UEFA Europa League. However, if the winner has already qualified for the 2020–21 edition of the UEFA Champions League through their position in the Bundesliga, then the spot will go to the team in sixth, and the league's UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round spot will go to the team in seventh.[6]
Teams
In the following table, finals until 1943 were in the Tschammerpokal era, since 1953 were in the DFB-Pokal era.
| Team | Previous final appearances (bold indicates winners) |
|---|---|
| RB Leipzig | 1 (2019) |
| Borussia Dortmund | 9 (1963, 1965, 1989, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) |
Background
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Route to the final
The DFB-Pokal began with 64 teams in a single-elimination knockout cup competition. There were a total of five rounds leading up to the final. Teams were drawn against each other, and the winner after 90 minutes would advance. If still tied, 30 minutes of extra time was played. If the score was still level, a penalty shoot-out was used to determine the winner.[7]
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
| RB Leipzig | Round | Borussia Dortmund | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Result | 2020–21 DFB-Pokal | Opponent | Result |
| 1. FC Nürnberg | 3–0 (A) | First round | MSV Duisburg | 5–0 (A) |
| FC Augsburg | 3–0 (A) | Second round | Eintracht Braunschweig | 2–0 (A) |
| VfL Bochum | 4–0 (H) | Round of 16 | SC Paderborn | 3–2 (a.e.t.) (H) |
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2–0 (H) | Quarter-finals | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 1–0 (A) |
| Werder Bremen | 2–1 (a.e.t.) (A) | Semi-finals | Holstein Kiel | 5–0 (H) |
Match
Details
         RB Leipzig
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     Borussia Dortmund
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Assistant referees:[1]
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See also
Notes
- ^ a b The final is being played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.[2]
- ^ Each team is being given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Brych leitet Pokalfinale in Berlin" [Brych officiates cup final in Berlin]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ a b "DFB-Pokalfinale in Berlin ohne Zuschauer" [DFB-Pokal Final in Berlin without spectators]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Alle DFB-Pokalsieger" [All DFB-Pokal winners]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ "Rahmenterminkalender 2020/2021: Saison startet mit DFB-Pokal" [Framework schedule 2020–21: Season starts with DFB-Pokal]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "DFB-Präsidium verabschiedet Rahmenterminkalender 2020/2021" [DFB executive committee passes framework schedule 2020/2021]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Strategic talks in Dubrovnik". UEFA.org. Union of European Football Associations. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Modus" [Mode]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "Spielordnung" [Match rules] (PDF). DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. p. 58 (60 of PDF). Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- ^ "Fünf Auswechslungen: DFB verlängert Ausnahmeregelung" [Five substitutions: DFB extends exceptional regulation]. DFB.de (in German). German Football Association. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.