CUP FORMAT

Bear with me — this year, with 11 teams, things got a bit tricky. The goal is to keep as many teams in the tournament as long as possible.

The 2025/26 Comunio Cup will consist of the following stages:

1. Group Stage (four matchdays [MD]: MD 07, MD 10, MD 13, MD 16

- There will be three groups, with 4, 4, and 3 teams respectively

- The top 2 teams from each group will automatically advance to the knockout stage

- The remaining 5 teams (those not qualified directly) will compete in a Play-in group

2. Play-in Stage (two MD: MD 19, MD 20)

- Each of the not qualified teams will play 2 additional matches, and their points from the initial group stage will carry over

- The top 2 teams from the Play-in group will qualify for the knockout stage.

3. Knockout Stage: Home-and-away matchups will determine who advances

- The team with the higher combined score over the two legs moves on

- In case of a tie on aggregate, the team with the lower squad value (measured on the Friday before the second leg) will progress

# The teams in Group C, being in a group of only three, will face (allegedly) tougher matchups in the knockout stage. #

Quarterfinal Pairings

- Group A 1st vs Play-in 2nd

- Group C 1st vs Lower-ranked 2nd place from Groups A or B

- Group B 1st vs Play-in 1st

- Group C 2nd vs Higher-ranked 2nd place from Groups A or B

The final and the third-place match will be played during the last round of the Bundesliga season

Quarter finals 1st leg: MD 24

Quarter finals 2nd leg: MD 26

Semifinals 1st leg: MD 30

Semifinals 2nd leg: MD 32

Final: MD 34