Jena, March 11, 2026. Ahead of the trend-setting relegation showdown in the Bundesliga, the footballers of FC Carl Zeiss Jena want to gain fresh self-confidence in the DFB-Pokal quarter-final. Today’s opponent this Wednesday is the second-division side SC Sand.
- What: Women’s DFB-Pokal Quarter-Final
- Who: FC Carl Zeiss Jena vs. SC Sand
- When: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 6:30 PM
- Where: Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld, Jena
Cup Success Meets League Crisis
The current season for the Jena team is characterized by strong sporting contrasts. While the team occupies the last place in the Bundesliga table and recently conceded 15 goals in just three matches, things are running flawlessly in the DFB-Pokal. With two victories and a strong goal difference of 6:0, FCC confidently advanced to the round of the last eight. Against promotion contenders SC Sand, the only remaining second-division team in the competition, head coach Florian Kästner now hopes for a noticeable “positive effect” for the upcoming league routine, where Hamburger SV awaits at the weekend.
Tactical Adjustments and Respect for the Opponent
Although SC Sand is formally considered the supposedly easiest draw in the quarter-finals, the Thuringians are on guard. Sand currently holds second place in the lower division and is pushing for promotion to the top flight. Defender Toma Ihlenburg warns of the guests’ fast counter-attacks: “We simply have to be firm in the duels.” To stabilize the vulnerable defense while simultaneously applying more pressure, coach Kästner announced adjustments to the play against the ball and a more active approach to pressing.
Home Advantage at Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld
A decisive factor could be the size of the home pitch in the Jenaer Paradies. Midfielder Merza Julević sees this as a clear advantage for the FCC offense: “We have extremely fast players up front with a lot of pace. We have to exploit the space and our speed.” According to Julević, if the team brings its own strengths to the pitch calmly and with focus, nothing stands in the way of reaching the semi-finals.
Background: Historical Cup Duels
The encounter between Jena and SC Sand already has a certain tradition in the DFB-Pokal. The record speaks slightly in favor of the Thuringians: In the 2022/23 season, FCC won 4:2 in the round of 16 against their opponents from Baden-Württemberg. Previously, however, they suffered a clear 1:4 defeat in a quarter-final duel about ten years ago.
Probably the greatest cup success in Jena’s women’s football history dates back to 2009. At that time, the predecessor club FF USV Jena marched unstoppably to the DFB-Pokal final in Berlin after a 5:0 victory (also against SC Sand), where they eventually lost to FCR 2001 Duisburg. Cup matches under floodlights at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld have since been considered special events in Jena’s sporting history.
Source:
DFB-Pokal: Carl Zeiss Jena wants to build confidence against Sand
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.