Preview: Hansa Rostock vs Hoffenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

Hansa Rostock will look to cause an upset when they take on TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the DFB-Pokal clash at the Ostseestadion on Saturday.

The visitors have enjoyed an impressive pre-season, though, and will be aiming to start the 2025-26 campaign with a bang.

Match preview

Hansa dropped down to 3. Liga after they suffered relegation in 2023-24.

Since 2005, the East German club has seen a steady decline and finished fifth in the 2024-25 season, 12 points behind league leaders Arminia Bielefeld.

Under Daniel Brinkmann, the Cog have started the new season steadily, picking up a win and a draw in their opening two league games.

They started the 2025-26 season with a draw against Erzgebirge Aue and followed it up with a narrow 1-0 victory against SV Waldhof, with midfielder Marco Schuster providing the winner.

Rostock stunned everyone during the pre-season when they won 3-1 against Aston Villa, and they also picked up a heavy 6-0 win against German side Phonix Lubeck.

Hoffenheim finished 15th in the Bundesliga table last season, taking home 32 points, only seven above safety but above safety nonetheless.

Die Kraichgauer managed just one win in their last league games in 2024-25, and they needed a massive squad overhaul in the summer transfer window.

Christian Ilzer signed as many as six new players this summer, including Vladimir Coufal, who joined from West Ham United on a free transfer.

The defence and the midfield areas have seen major reinforcement, while they added a new striker, Tim Lemperle, from FC Koln.

Hoffenheim have won all six of their pre-season games, including a double victory over Werder Bremen, and they have looked pretty solid at the back.

Hansa Rostock form (all competitions):

D W

Team News

Rostock are missing Polish left-back Milosz Brzozowski, who has suffered a torn ligament injury and is not expected to return before the end of October.

Veteran German centre forward, Andreas Voglsammer, is also out injured with a calf injury, while young striker Ryan Naderi is also out with a muscle injury.

Young right-winger Fiete Bock picked up a mononucleated injury in June, and he is also not expected to return anytime soon.

Hoffenheim have already suffered some major blows ahead of the new season. Defender Ozan Kabak has picked up a cruciate ligament tear injury, and he is set to miss a lot of games this term.

Adam Hlozek is set for major surgery after breaking the scaphoid bone in his right foot during training camp, while right back Valentin Gendrey is also a long-term absentee with a broken ankle.

Hansa Rostock possible starting lineup: Uphoff; Carstens, Wallner, Pfanne; Schuster, Fatkic, Krauss, Mejdr; Stock, Lebeau, Hummel

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup: Baumann; Coufal, Chaves, Machida, Bernardo; Avdullahu, Burger; Damar, Toure, Asllani; Moerstedt

We say: Hansa Rostock 1-3 Hoffenheim

The two teams have previously met three times in the DFB-Pokal, but they have never faced each other in the league.

Hoffenheim won twice, while Rostock prevailed once, way back in 2004. The recent form guide puts the Bundesliga club as clear favourites and they should triumph comfortably.

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