Augsburg vs. Schalke (Tuesday, 5.00pm)
© Imago
Battling it out for a place in the DFB-Pokal's last 16, Bundesliga side Augsburg will host fallen giants Schalke 04 on Tuesday.
While the hosts shocked Borussia Dortmund at the weekend, easing their top-flight woes, Schalke lost a seven-goal thriller and remain mired in the bottom half of the second-tier table.
We say: Augsburg 3-1 Schalke 04
Although Augsburg are frail at the back, Schalke's recent record suggests the Ruhr club will be sent back to Gelsenkirchen with a cup defeat to mull over.
Both teams should score, but the hosts have more quality in key areas and will ultimately make that pay.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
B. Leverkusen vs. Elversberg (Tuesday, 5.00pm)
![Xabi Alonso gestures during Bayer Leverkusen's match against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 23, 2024 [on August 26, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/35/xabi-alonso.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Xabi Alonso gestures during Bayer Leverkusen's match against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 23, 2024 [on August 26, 2024]")
© Imago
In the second round of the DFB-Pokal, Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen are set to host 2. Bundesliga club Elversberg on Tuesday at BayArena.
The home team won the DFB-Pokal last term and are currently third in the league with 15 points from eight matches, while the visitors beat Borussia Hildesheim 7-0 in the previous round of Tuesday's competition in August and are seventh in the second tier with 16 points after 10 matchweeks.
We say: Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 Elversberg
While Bayer Leverkusen could concede on Tuesday given their poor defensive record of late, it is difficult to see how Elversberg can topple the Bundesliga champions.
The hosts are still formidable from an offensive perspective, and even if the visitors were to defend deep in their own half, it would not be surprising if Alonso's side won by multiple goals.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
RB Leipzig vs. St Pauli (Tuesday, 5.00pm)
© Imago
RB Leipzig are set to take on fellow Bundesliga side St Pauli at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
Leipzig are currently second in the league with 20 points after eight matchweeks and beat Rot-Weiss Essen 4-1 in the first round of the competition in August, while the visitors are third last in 16th place with five points and occupy the division's relegation playoff spot.
We say: RB Leipzig 1-0 St Pauli
Though Leipzig have not been particularly prolific in front of goal, their defensive record is exceptional, and they could keep a clean sheet on Tuesday.
Additionally, given the hosts' strong pedigree in the DFB-Pokal in recent seasons, it would be surprising if they were eliminated at such an early stage of the competition.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Stuttgart vs. Kaiserslautern (Tuesday, 7.45pm)
© Imago
Last season's Bundesliga runners-up Stuttgart are set to host 2. Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern on Tuesday at MHPArena in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
The hosts are eighth in the top flight with 12 points from eight games and beat Preussen Munster 5-0 in late August to reach the second round, while the visitors are 10th in the second tier with 15 points after 10 matchweeks.
We say: Stuttgart 2-0 Kaiserslautern
It is hard to see how Kaiserslautern can avoid defeat on Tuesday given the calibre of their opponents.
Additionally, Stuttgart's record at home is strong, and while last season's finalists may make the clash difficult, it would not be surprising if the hosts advanced into the next round.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund (Tuesday, 7.45pm)
© Imago
Wolfsburg will be involved in an all-top-flight clash in the DFB-Pokal when they host Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday at Volkswagen Arena.
The Wolves beat Koblenz 1-0 in the first round of the competition in August and are 14th in the Bundesliga with eight points, while Nuri Sahin's Dortmund beat Phonix Lubeck 4-1 in August to reach the second round.
We say: Wolfsburg 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
BVB are in desperate need of a victory, but it is difficult to see them winning in a comfortable manner.
It would not be surprising if Wolfsburg scored first, but given their poor home form, they may struggle to hold onto a lead.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
FC Koln vs. Holstein Kiel (Tuesday, 7.45pm)
![Denis Huseinbasic FC Koln - Viktoria Koln (1. FC Koln, 8) hadert. Testspiel, 1. FC Koln - Viktoria Koln, am 20.07.2024, Sportpark Hohenberg, Koln. Test match 1 FC Koln Viktoria Koln, 20 07 2024 [on July 22, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/denis-huseinbasic.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Denis Huseinbasic FC Koln - Viktoria Koln (1. FC Koln, 8) hadert. Testspiel, 1. FC Koln - Viktoria Koln, am 20.07.2024, Sportpark Hohenberg, Koln. Test match 1 FC Koln Viktoria Koln, 20 07 2024 [on July 22, 2024]")
© Imago
FC Koln will host Holstein Kiel at RheinEnergieStadion on Tuesday night, with both teams aiming to book a place in the DFB-Pokal round of 16.
The hosts needed extra time to defeat third-division side SV Sandhausen in the first round, while the visitors edged another third-division team, Alemannia Aachen.
We say: FC Koln 2-1 Holstein Kiel
Both teams are coming into this clash low on confidence, but Koln have still managed to win some games compared to Kiel who have won just one competitive game all season, which is why we expect the hosts to edge this out, even if it goes to extra time.
