REF’s picks

Backing under 2.5 goals in this DFB-Pokal tie reflects Union Berlin's defensive resilience and Köln's recent struggles to break opponents down. Both sides have shown a tendency toward low-scoring encounters lately, and cup matches at this stage often cagey affairs.

1. 1Union Berlin held Dortmund scoreless recently and kept clean sheets against Elversberg and Rijeka.
2. 2Köln's recent league matches against Schalke and Frankfurt both featured minimal attacking output and very few goals.
3. 3A tight cup battle could open up late if a mistake happens, but early caution from both defensive setups usually limits early scoring chances.

REF's own opinion, not a guarantee — nothing here is financial or betting advice, and the call is always yours.