As usual, the season begins with the DFB-Pokal, a tournament that SC have enjoyed in the last couple of seasons, reaching the final in 2022 and the semis in 2023. “We always approach the Pokal in the same fashion. It’s a great competition and we’re going all in for it,” said Christian Streich.

The first match-up of this year’s competition already promises to be special, as our opponents fall under the same footballing authority – the South Baden Football Association. Fifth-division side SV Oberachern have qualified for the Pokal for the second time in a row, as winners of the South Baden Cup. Last season, the men from Ortenau exited in the first round, also at the Dreisamstadion, as they succumbed to a defeat at the hands of Borussia Mönchengladbach.

“It’s definitely the most special Pokal game that we could’ve asked for,” said Oberachern’s sporting director, Mark Lerandy. That’s not all, as the game is being held in the Dreisamstadion, which was SC’s home ground for a long time. “SC are the best club in the region and some of our boys were at Freiburg in the past. Everything’s come full circle for me, too,” added Lerandy, who played for SC’s reserves.

Oberachern have “good players“

There’s a lot of anticipation within the club: “We bid adieu to the Dreisamstadion, but it feels like we’re coming back home. We’re looking forward to the away day. Since we’re playing another club from South Baden, the game’s sold out.” The team can expect to be treated like the home side – after all, they’re using the home dressing room. “I’ve never been in the away dressing room,” laughed Streich. SC also sold 12,000 tickets to fans, half of the overall capacity.

Streich is happy with the way SC have prepared for the clash with the side from the fifth-tier. “We played very well for 70 minutes against Empoli,” explained the 58 year-old. He mentioned that he was pleased with fitness levels before the start of the season. Although there are four divisions between the clubs, Streich urged caution: “We’ve watched videos of Oberachern, they can play. Oberachern have players who’ve been at Hoffenheim, Freiburg, Racing Strasbourg – they’re good players. It’d be silly not to take them seriously.”

Günter returns

The coaching staff will have to manage without the injured Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Junior Adamu and Max Rosenfelder. Club captain Christian Günter, who broke his arm in the first pre-season game, is fit again and in consideration to start. While Streich and his coaching staff have been transparent regarding their choice of centre midfielders - “Merlin Röhl and Maxi Eggestein are starting” – a decision on the starting goalkeeper is still in the balance. Last season, Noah Atubolu, who was second-choice at the time, got a chance to play in the Pokal. After Mark Flekken’s move to Brentford, he’s the new number one, with Florian Müller deputising. “The spot is up for grabs,” revealed Streich, as he went on to express his excitement for Sunday: “It’s cool that we’re playing against Oberachern at the Dreisamstadion.”

Photo: Achim Keller