There really is no scale in America to describe just how big of a gap there is between 1. FC Saarbrücken and Bayer Leverkusen, who will play Tuesday in the first DFB Pokal semifinal.
Saarbrücken currently leads the Regionalliga Southwest, one of three fourth division leagues in Germany. Leverkusen is currently tied on points with Borussia Mönchengladbach for the final UEFA Champions League place in the Bundesliga, one of the three best leagues in the world.
I guess the only way to put it that would make some sense here is if a Single A team took on the Washington Nationals for a chance to win the title.
No shot for the little guy, right?
Well, 1. FC Saarbrücken is still in it. Saarbrücken has advanced past two Bundesliga teams already: a 3-2 win over FC Köln in the round of 32 way back on October 29, and
1-1 (7-6 on penalties) over Fortuna Düsseldorf in the quarterfinals.
Leverkusen wants to book its first trip to the final since 2009, and will look to win its second cup (1993). It will have to do it without Kai Havertz, and probably with some players rested, but Leverkusen should still have enough to get past Saarbrücken.
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GERMANY DFB POKAL SEMIFINAL
FC Saarbrücken (+1300) vs. Bayer Leverkusen (-715), draw (+800), 2:45 p.m. EDT (ESPN)
THE PICKS:
Bayer Leverkusen -1 first half Asian handicap (-118)
Over 1.5 goals first half (-129)
Bayer Leverkusen to win to nil (-105)