Borussia Dortmund edged into the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal thanks to a 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday night.
The fast half had few chances but the best of the lot by far fell to Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who only managed to slash a left-footed effort wide of the near post.
With extra time looming, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacted quickest to a near-post flick-on to squeeze a header over the line to send the away fans home happy.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello German football fans! It's time for the quarter-finals of the Cup and tonight we have Frankfurt up against Dortmund. This one should be a very interesting clash indeed between two sides returning to form.
Dortmund have been in the shadow of not only Bayern Munich this season but also Bayer Leverkusen - the latter are currently second in the Bundesliga. They have come back focused after the winter break, however, and with two wins from two - one 5-1 - they will be coming into this game on a high.
Frankfurt beat Braunschweig 3-0 at the weekend in what was a very efficient performance against a side that has made themselves tough to beat. They have beaten two lower league teams so far in the cup, but have scored six along the way. This is a new test entirely.
Right then, let's take a look at the two teams shall we. I can tell you that Klopp has definitely picked a side that shows he means business in the Pokal.
FRANKFURT XI: Trapp; Jung, Zambrano, Madlung, Djakpa; Russ, Rode; Flum, Meier, Aigner; Kadlec
DORTMUND XI: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Friedrich, Sokratis, Schmelzer; Sahin, Kehl; Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski
So for the hosts, Vaclav Kadlec starts up front and really that's as strong as a lineup that Armin Veh can put out. New signing Alexander Madlung comes into the middle of defence for his first appearance for his new side.
It seems, out of all Klopp's talented players, only Marco Reus has been given time off from the starting XI. He has been ever-present this term, but from that lineup it seems that Kevin Grosskreutz will be his direct replacement on the left flank. He will probably swap sides with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Not long until we get underway then, which side do I think will make the semi-finals? I have to pick Dortmund tonight, but I think they'll be made to work for a 2-1 win.
KICKOFF: The hosts, in their change black and white strip, get us underway.
It has been a good start from the home side. They've pressed well and not let Dortmund settle. Constant Djakpa puts in a free kick that is headed away, before he strikes a shot from range on his weaker foot. It goes well wide.
Still Dortmund are struggling to get much of the ball. They are being forced back by Frankfurt's tempo and have barely ventured into the hosts' half so far.
This looks nasty here for the Frankfurt winger Johannes Flum. He landed on his left ankle and it seemed to twist underneath him. He's able to walk - well, limp - off the pitch and is receiving treatment. He does look in pain.
Foul against Kehl in an unfamiliar position on the left wing. He passed the ball to Grosskreutz, but didn't carry on his run when it was returned to him and in the end he pulled down Jung.
CHANCE! Really good counter there from Dortmund. It's played to Aubameyang on the right by Sahin, before he pulls back to the edge of the box for Mkhitaryan. The Armenian drags his shot a little, though, and it goes wide. First hint of danger there.
BOOKING: Sokratis is a big lad, but he's not so quick on his feet. Rode turns him a bit easily and he takes the yellow card by bringing him down. Dangerous spot here.
Dortmund really do have a lot of pace on the break. They try again but this time Aubameyang's cross is cleared, before Lewandowki gives away a foul as the come forward again.
It's a little scrappy just now with not many passes finding their target. That said, Frankfurt nearly set Kadlec away but the forward had strayed just offside trying to get on to the pass from Rode.
CLOSE! Aubameyang heads over from just under the bar when a corner was flicked on. It looks as though there was a touch from Rode, who went up for the header with the Gabonese. Mkhitaryan's corner is then gathered by Trapp.
There's a good atmosphere around the stadium tonight as the hosts try to egg their side on. A lot of the noise is coming from the yellow contingent, however. The Dortmund fans are in great voice, as usual.
That's a little too intricate there from Aubameyang. Dortmund looked to break, with Grosskreutz playing a good ball over the top to the Gabonese, but his dinked effort over the top left Lewandowski with a bit much to do to get on it.
SAVE! Another great counter by Dortmund. There's a chance at the other end before they break through Lewandowski. He surges forward and plays to Grosskreutz to his right, but the shot is turned around the post by Trapp with a diving save.
Not a bad effort there from Aubameyang with a running free kick, but his effort went comfortably over and wide of Trapp's goal.
Dortmund are beginning to up the pressure as this half comes towards a conclusion. Aubameyang is the outlet on the right, but his low cross this time is cleared for a throw before reaching Mkhitaryan.
CHANCE! Mkhitaryan probably should have put his side in front there! It's yet another swift attacking move from Dortmund, with the ball played to the Armenian on the left, but his strike goes wide of the near post.
Foul conceded by Meier as he went up with Friedrich at a corner. If anything Friedrich swung an arm but I certainly didn't see a free kick either way. It looks like we'll be goalless at the end of the half.
Can Dortmund create something here late on? Lewandowski might have shot there after being found in the box by Mkhitaryan, but instead he laid it off and Frankfurt cleared.
HALF-TIME: Frankfurt 0-0 Dortmund
It wasn't the best of halves and to be truthful 0-0 is about right at the moment. Dortmund have looked really threatening on the break, but haven't yet had a clear-cut chance.
Likewise, and perhaps more so, Frankfurt have not yet tested Weidenfeller. They have put in a couple of crosses, but they've not been able to put together a spell of possession yet. At least not in dangerous areas.
It can definitely only get better. Veh will probably be the most happy of the two coaches as he was fortunate when Mkhitaryan squandered the best opening of the game so far. His team have restricted the hosts to just some counters, which is not easy.
It's almost time for the second half to get underway. The crowd have been magnificent so far, and they really do deserve a goal to give them something else to shout about.
FRANKFURT SUB: A change at the break then, as Jan Rosenthal takes to the field in place of Kadlec. The striker did very little, in fairness and that seems a good change.
We're back underway here then. Aubameyang looking to attack Djakpa early on, but the left-back does well to clear and start an attack, which breaks down soon after.
Soft free kick that against Lewandowski. Djakpa backed into him and just fell down. Even if it's soft, it's a chance for the left-back to cross. It's cleared, though, as his ball in was just too far in front of the big guys who had come forward.
CHANCE! Marauding run from right-back by Jung and he's found in acres with a cross-field pass. However, his shot from the angle goes wide of Weidenfeller's near post. That was a good use of the space.
Jung again is found in so much space down the right. His cross is headed clear and Zambrano slips to allow Lewandowski in, however the Pole gets the ball stuck under his foot and then brings down the Peruvian. The defender gets a word from the ref about his woeful play-acting, though.
It's all a bit edgy at the moment as Lewandowski wins a cheap free kick on the left. Chance for Sahin to swing it in and it goes all the way to the back post where a sliding Sokratis puts it over the bar. Not an easy chance at all.
CHANCE! A couple of half-chances there for the hosts. First the ball is sliced by Rode, before Aigner is defended tightly as he tried to work something. Frankfurt are on top here.
Zambrano was running for the ball with Lewandowski and looked to flash out an elbow at the chest of the Pole. After a long discussion on his radio, however, the referee takes no action and Frankfurt get things back underway.
Zambrano is on the deck again and this battle between him and Lewandowski could see one of them sent off before long. This time Lewandowski's shot smashes him in the face - he didn't aim for him, but won't be too upset given their battle so far.
Once more Zambrano is down! This time he was involved with Kehl I think, but I'm not sure what happened exactly. They're just holding each other and Kehl falls on him, but the Peruvian is on the floor again. He thinks he's in the slopestyle competition I think.
Big header away from Madlung there and that's not the first time he's done that tonight. There hasn't been a chance for a while and the more this goes on the more it looks as though a single goal would win it.
Appeals for a penalty from the Dortmund players, but that might have been a dive from the Pole. There actually was contact from Madlung and I think the swan dive from Lewandowski has gone against him there!
BOOKING: Flum has his arms up in the air, but he definitely tugged down Lewandowski as the striker ran past him. Dortmund are just about on top but by no means dominant.
Frankfurt finally manage to venture into the Dortmund half, but they cannot work anything from Jung's throw from the right. Just 15 minutes left for one of these sides to win in normal time.
BOOKING: Schmelzer goes into the book for a lunging tackle on Flum. He didn't get enough of the ball from the angle he went in at.
CHANCE! Rueful smile from Lewandowski as he's found by Mkhitaryan but sees his effort deflected behind. He wanted too much time there.
CHANCE! Mkhitaryan with an effort this time, but as he shaped to shoot the ball got stuck under his foot and in the end it was just a poked effort that Trapp was able to keep out with his legs.
GOAL! Frankfurt 0-1 Dortmund (Aubameyang)
Aubameyang celebrates acrobatically, but really he won't get many more simpler goals. A corner is flicked on towards him at the far post and his header squeezes past Rode on the line for a late lead. That could be it.
Wasteful attempt there from Rosenthal. Frankfurt manage to work something of a chance, with Flum finding Aigner, who then looked for Rosenthal but the shot from 20 yards was slashed over.
Dangerous spot for Mkhitaryan to bend in a cross with a free kick, but he gets too much on it and it flies harmlessly out of play beyond the far post.
DORTMUND SUB: Jonas Hofmann comes on for a couple of minutes in place of Mkhitaryan, who was good tonight and is beginning to get back to form.
We're into the first minute of added on time. It's quickly running out for the hosts now!
FULL-TIME: Frankfurt 0-1 Borussia Dortmund
So Dortmund edge out Frankfurt to reach the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal. It was far from thrilling, but BVB just about deserve to go through.
Thanks for joining me today. We're back in the German Cup tomorrow with Bayern away to Hamburg. Until then, goodbye!
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
