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Babbel´s Stuttgart have all to play for

VfB Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel will take his team to second-division Greuther Fuerth for Tuesday’s German Cup tie with a place in the quarterfinals – and potentially his job – on the line.

Stuttgart’s 1-0 defeat to Hanover on Saturday was their fourth straight defeat and although he has been given a vote of confidence, Babbel can not afford to see his side dumped out of the cup as they struggle in the league.

“There is no debate over the coach, Markus Babbel will sit on the bench in Fuerth,” said Stuttgart manager Horst Heldt after Saturday’s Hanover defeat which leaves his side 14th in the league.

“We really need results now, things are difficult and after four defeats it is hard to talk about things improving.”

The words contradicted those of Babbel who moments before had talked about seeing signs of improvement from his side, with precious little evidence of a fighting spirit on the pitch.

“I was a fighter when I was a player and I would always want to fight,” said ex-Bayern Munich midfielder Babbel.

Stuttgart are in the last sixteen only by virtue by virtue of an extra-time win over fourth division Luebeck in the second round and Babbel needs a convincing win from his side to reach the last eight.

In the round’s other ties, Bundesliga sides Cologne and Borussia Dortmund must also avoid potential banana-skins at minnows Eintracht Trier and third division VfL Osnabrueck respectively on Tuesday.

Osbnabrueck were the talk of the second round after they knocked out Hamburg on penalties and the minnows will be keen to claim another Bundesliga scalp.

On Wednesday, Schalke 04 travel down to the Allianz Arena to play second-divion 1860 Munich who knocked out Bundesliga bottom side Hertha Berlin on penalties in the second round.

Cup holders Werder Bremen host former top-tier side Kaiserslautern while German giants Bayern Munich are at Eintracht Frankfurt in the only all-Bundesliga tie of the round.

Louis van Gaal-coached Bayern warmed-up for Wednesday’s game with a 2-1 win over Frankfurt in the German league last Saturday so the sides will know all about each other when they square off again.

Tuesday

Greuther Fuerth v VfB Stuttgart

Eintracht Trier v Cologne

VfL Osnabrueck v Borussia Dortmund

Augsburg v MSV Duisburg

Wednesday

1860 Munich v Schalke 04

Werder Bremen v Kaiserslautern

Hoffenheim v TuS Koblenz

Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayern Munich

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: 1860 munich, allianz arena, banana skins, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, Borussia, borussia dortmund, Bremen, cologne, cup tie, eintracht trier, extra time, fighting spirit, FRANKFURT, Hamburg, Hanover, Horst Heldt, Louis, louis van gaal, markus babbel, Munich, quarterfinals, schalke 04, straight defeat, stuttgart, vote of confidence

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