1.FCKs wild ride [R] So, unless by some minor miracle, Bayern doesn't win the BL title this year, or by some major miracle, Kaiserslautern avoids relegation, they'll be representing in Europe as a BL2 side (as the number 2 in the German cup, assuming they don't beat Bayern). How often does this happen that an active BL2 side is in the UEFA or even the Champs League? Is there a precedent?
I remember Union Berlin playing in the UEFA cup several years ago while playing in BL2. I think they won the German cup.
There are examples. 1.FC Kaiserslautern last time won the cup when they relegated. In the early 90s Hannover won the national cup as D2 team and played in the former European Cup of the Cup Winners (and failed against Werder Bremen in the first round, which took part as cup defender - great draw...). And wasn't it just a few years ago that a French D2 team won the cup competition and started UEFA Cup?
And that was a heck of a woodshed-ass-whuppin they put on Nürnberg! I guess staring at the German equivalent of Ch. 7 would be motivation for anyone Torn... As much as I'd love to see Die Teufel stay in BL1, it sure would suck to see Steve and Conor (sort of Conor) go down to BL2, or Tony, for that matter. BTW, can someone fix the title of this thread? Awfully embarrassing to have FC1 instead of 1.FC up there...
One example is missing: in 1991/1992 EFC Stahl (Oberliga, 3rd level back then) played in the cup winners cup, but they qualified as last runners-up of the GDR cup. This year Portuguese 3rd Division side Leixoes played in the UEFA cup, btw.