German Cup
2026-10-28 - Holstein Kiel vs TSG Hoffenheim
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Football; Germany: DFB Pokal 2nd Round
Holstein Stadion – Kiel
Wednesday, 28th October 2026 - kickoff 20:45 CET
Holstein Kiel
Holstein Kiel finally got their first 2.Bundesliga win of the season on Sunday, beating Dynamo Dresden 3-0. That was a great relief after a difficult start to their 2.Bundesliga campaign, with 8 straight winless games in a row (5 draws).
The challenge now is to carry that performance into a DFB Cup tie against stronger opposition. Holstein Kiel have been more competitive at home than their 2.Bundesliga position suggests, and they have kept clean sheets in their last two home matches.
However, several players remain unavailable, including Lasse Rosenboom, Frederik Roslyng and Steven Skrzybski, while Sebastian Schonlau has picked up another muscular problem.
TSG Hoffenheim
TSG Hoffenheim have turned their form around at just the right time. They beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-2, defeated Lyon 3-0 in the Europa League, and then won again 3-0 against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
The victory over Bayer Leverkusen last weekend was particularly impressive, as TSG Hoffenheim scored twice late in the match and still added a third after Alexander Prass was sent off.
Christian Ilzer's side have found more confidence and are now scoring more regularly. Prass is available for the DFB Cup tie because his suspension applies to the Bundesliga, although TSG Hoffenheim still have injury concerns around Nathan De Cat, Albian Hajdari and Patrick Wimmer. Tim Lemperle is also a fitness doubt.
The Betting Verdict
TSG Hoffenheim are in much better form, and I would back them to progress. Three straight wins across the Bundesliga and Europa League have given them momentum, while Holstein Kiel's win over Dynamo Dresden was encouraging but came against a side that struggled to convert its chances.
The away win at fair odds is my first choice. TSG Hoffenheim have won all four of their previous competitive meetings with Holstein Kiel, and their recent performances show they have found their attacking rhythm.
The Pick :
Holstein Kiel 1-2 TSG Hoffenheim
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take TSG Hoffenheim to win at odds of 1.50 with Bet365
