Stuttgart, fourth in the German table, made light work of dismissing fellow Bundesliga side Bochum with a 4-1 thrashing including two goals from German international Thomas Hitzlsperger.

"I am happy with the entire first half of the season and the boys have earned a two-week rest now," said Stuttgart coach Armin Veh.

Argentine midfielder Christian Gimenez, on loan from French side Marseille, stole the show for Hertha scoring twice in ten minutes as his side crushed Osnabruck 3-0.

"We were convincing winners and I am delighted by the performance. Now we hope for a good quarterfinal draw," said Hertha boss Falko Gotz

With Werder Bremen and Schalke 04, joint leaders in the Bundesliga, both already out of the competition Stuttgart and Hertha will now fancy their chances of going all the way.

Stuttgart have not won any silverware since lifting this trophy in 1997 while it is the first time Hertha have reached the quarterfinal stage in five years.

Last season's finalists Eintracht Frankfurt also reached the last eight defeating second division Cologne 3-1 in extra-time.

Japanese international Naohiro Takahara, seemingly reborn after a summer move from SV Hamburg, scored on 95 minutes to put Frankfurt ahead in extra-time before Sotirios Kyrgiakos clinched the victory.

FC Nuremberg were another Bundesliga side to progress but they needed penalty kicks to defeat minnows Unterhaching.

With the scores level at 0-0 following extra-time a bizarre penalty shootout ensued with misses galore as Nuremberg won 2-1.

Favourites and holders Bayern Munich have won this competition for the past two seasons and continue their treble bid against Alemannia Aachen on Wednesday.

Aachen were the last team to defeat Bayern in this competition way back in February 2004 with the loss acting as a catalyst for the departure of manager Ottmar Hitzfeld.