The stage is set for a landmark moment in German women’s football as FC Bayern Women open their DFB Cup campaign with a mouthwatering first-round clash against Borussia Dortmund Women. On Monday evening, the reigning cup holders travel to Dortmund’s iconic Stadion Rote Erde for what will be the first-ever competitive meeting between the women’s sides of these two football giants. Kick-off is at 6:30pm CEST, and anticipation is already running high.
For Bayern, this is the beginning of another ambitious journey as they look to defend the trophy they lifted last season. José Barcala’s side are in buoyant mood after a commanding 4-0 win over Freiburg earlier this week, a victory that propelled them to the top of the Bundesliga standings. That game also marked the long-awaited return of Giulia Gwinn, who has battled back from injury to strengthen Bayern’s already formidable squad.
But while Bayern arrive as heavy favourites, their opponents are no strangers to rapid success. Borussia Dortmund’s women have been on a remarkable journey, achieving four consecutive promotions to reach the Regionalliga West, Germany’s third tier, for the first time this season. Despite sitting just outside the top spots after an administrative error overturned their 3-0 win against Deutz, Dortmund remain an ambitious and hungry side ready to test themselves against the very best.
Head coach José Barcala struck a note of caution ahead of the match: “We’ll approach the game with maximum concentration and the greatest respect for our opponent. Every team can cause problems if we lose focus, so we must be dominant and aggressive from the first whistle.”
Young star Franziska Kett also highlighted the emotional weight of the fixture: “I used to watch Bayern against Dortmund as a kid – it’s Der Klassiker. Playing it now is something very special. We know we’re favourites, but Dortmund will give everything, and we have to match that with our quality.”
With Bayern balancing domestic dominance and upcoming Champions League challenges – including a glamour tie against Arsenal in November – Monday’s clash represents not just a test of professionalism but also a chance to showcase the growing spectacle of women’s football in Germany.
History awaits at Rote Erde. One team defends their crown, the other dares to dream.
