Sports Mole previews Sunday's DFB-Pokal clash between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hertha Berlin, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Ultimately aiming for a first-ever DFB-Pokal triumph this season, Hertha Berlin kick off their quest in this week's first round, as they visit Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday.

Twice finalists but never winners of Germany's national cup, Hertha travel to Lower Saxony for a tie against hosts who were promoted back to the 2. Bundesliga last term.

Match preview

Hertha Berlin players celebrate after 1. FC Union Berlin's Timo Baumgartl scores an own goal and Hertha BSC first goal on April 9, 2022 © Reuters

Having narrowly avoided demotion from the Bundesliga in May, by getting the better of Hamburg in the promotion/relegation playoffs, Hertha Berlin will seek a fresh start upon their return to competitive action.

New head coach Sandro Schwarz, who succeeded wily veteran Felix Magath earlier this summer, returns to Germany after a two-year stint in charge of Dynamo Moscow, and the former Mainz manager has experienced some mixed fortunes during pre-season.

Since Hertha's return to training in late June, the capital club thumped local amateurs Makkabi Berlin before beating Babelsberg and Energie Cottbus, but their training camp in England did not quite go to plan.

While results are not always important before the season gets under way, a hat-trick of friendly defeats - to Derby County (0-1), Nottingham Forest (1-3) and West Bromwich Albion (1-2) - may have dented confidence in a squad scarred by last season's failures.

With the opening matchday of the 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign tantalisingly pitting them against city rivals Union Berlin next weekend, Schwarz's side now seek to build some positive momentum by progressing in the DFB-Pokal.

Considering the 43-year-old is Die Alte Dame's seventh head coach since he departed Mainz in November 2019, precedent suggests that he will have precious little time for mistakes - particularly suffering a cup upset.

Hoping to profit from any uncertainty in the Hertha camp, Eintracht Braunschweig would have been their visitors' colleagues in Germany's second tier if Hertha had not pulled off their playoff comeback against Hamburg.

Die Lowen roared back into the 2. Bundesliga by finishing runners-up in 3. Liga last term, as they continue to yo-yo between the two divisions.

After pipping Kaiserslautern to second place and securing the ninth promotion in the club's history, Braunschweig's aim to avoid an immediate relegation like in 2020-21 has started slowly since the action commenced earlier this month.

The 1967 Bundesliga champions have lost both of their opening league games without scoring a goal: beaten 2-0 by Hamburg and 3-0 by Heidenheim during the past fortnight.

Coach Michael Schiele may hope for some respite in the DFB-Pokal on Sunday, then, by beating both the odds and their top-tier opponents.

Eintracht Braunschweig form (all competitions):

Hertha Berlin form (all competitions):

Team News

Everton's Jonjoe Kenny pictured in September 2020 © Reuters

There have been numerous comings and goings in Berlin this summer, with the arrivals of Filip Uremovic and Jonjoe Kenny being supplemented by several loanees returning to join Hertha's new dawn under Sandro Schwarz.

Niklas Stark (Werder Bremen) and Jordan Torunarigha (Gent) have departed, but Nigeria international Chidera Ejuke signed on loan from CSKA Moscow earlier this month and Birmingham City's Ivan Sunjic has also penned a temporary deal - both could start on Sunday.

Up front, Davie Selke is favourite to lead the line, as Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek is still hoping to seal a return to Italy, having had previous spells in Serie A with Genoa, AC Milan and Fiorentina.

Eintracht, meanwhile, have retained the core of their squad following promotion, and goalkeeper Jasmin Fejzic is set to captain the hosts again, after missing the opening fortnight of the new league season.

The 36-year-old has recovered from a COVID-19 infection and should replace Ron-Thorben Hoffmann in goal, while other established names such as Brian Behrendt, Jannis Nikolaou, Robin Krausse and Lion Lauberbach are set to feature in Michael Schiele's probable 5-3-2 formation.

Eintracht Braunschweig possible starting lineup:
Fejzic; Marx, Decarli, Behrendt, Strompf, Kijewski; Krausse, Nikolaou, Pherai; Kaufmann, Lauberbach

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Christensen; Kenny, Uremovic, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Serdar, Boateng, Sunjic; Lukebakio, Selke, Ejuke

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We say: Eintracht Braunschweig 1-2 Hertha Berlin

For an opening test of their credentials, Hertha may have wished for more modest opposition to ease their way into the new campaign, but they could be tested to the full by Braunschweig.

Despite failing to register in 2. Bundesliga yet, the hosts have taken plenty of shots at goal, and with home advantage in their favour they may only suffer a narrow defeat.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.