The second quarter-final in the DFB Pokal will see Hertha Berlin taking on FCK Kaiserslautern at the Olympiastadion Berlin on Wednesday evening.
Hertha Berlin got to the last eight of the competition, beating Hamburger on penalties, while Kaiserslautern claimed a 2-0 win over Nurnberg.
Match preview
© Reuters
After finishing bottom of the Bundesliga last term, Hertha Berlin have been facing difficulties in the second tier and currently sit in 10th place with just 26 points after 19 matches, eight points behind the top four.
The capital club suffered a 3-1 defeat against Wehen Wiesbaden last weekend, which extended their recent run of results to three matches without victory, including two draws and a loss.
However, they will be confident in their chances of making the semis as they prepare to face a side that is below them in the league standings and that they beat 2-1 in their most recent encounter in mid-December.
The hosts have been the dominant side in this fixture in recent times and are unbeaten in their last three matches against this opponent, outscoring them 4-2 during their unbeaten streak.
Hertha have never managed to win the DFB Pokal, although they have been beaten finalists on two occasions; first in 1977 against Koln, and then again in 1979, falling short to Fortuna Dusseldorf.
© Reuters
Meanwhile, after securing a top-half finish in the second tier last term, Kaiserslautern have been struggling this season and are currently 14th in the league standings and just one point above the relegation zone.
The 2023-24 season has been a tale of two parts for the Red Devils as they began the campaign promisingly, securing 17 points from the first nine matches, but then failed to win a single game for the rest of the calendar year.
That run of results led to the club axing now-former manager Dirk Schuster at the end of November last year, with Dimitros Grammozis being appointed as Schuster's successor on December 3.
The new manager's tenure at the club got off to a poor start as his side lost each of his first three matches in charge but finally managed to secure a 4-1 victory against his former team Schalke 04 last weekend, snapping up a seven-match losing streak.
That win would have done wonders for Grammozis and his team's confidence and they will hope that result marked a turning point for them as they head into the second half of the league season.
Kaiserslautern have clinched the DFB Pokal title twice in the history of the club, in 1990 and 1996, while they have also been the runners-up on five occasions, with the most recent instance being in 2003.
Team News
© Reuters
Agustin Rogel and Bence Dardai are the long-term absentees for the hosts, and the pair are only expected to return to action in another month as they continue their recoveries from a knee and ankle injury respectively.
Fabian Reese and Pascal Klemns have both been flagged as doubts for this match due to illness, while Marten Winkler is still a few weeks away from returning from a knock sustained back in December.
The visitors will be able to welcome back Afeez Aremu for this fixture after the midfielder was forced to sit out the last three matches for a straight red he received against this opponent last month.
However, Grammozis will be without Julian Niehues, who will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards after receiving his fifth caution of the season against Schalke last week.
In terms of injuries, Philipp Hercher is only expected to return in late February due to a hip injury, while Hendrick Zuck has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with an ACL injury.
Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ernst; Kenny, Leistner, Kempf, Karbownik; Dardai, Bouchalakis; Zeefuik, Barkok, Scherhant; Tabakovic
Kaiserslautern possible starting lineup:
Krahl; Elvedi, Tomiak, Toure; Ronstadt, Puchacz, Aremu, Kaloc; Ritter; Ache, Tachie
We say: Hertha Berlin 2-1 Kaiserslautern
While Hertha Berlin have not been at their best this season, they have maintained a solid record at home and enter this match unbeaten in their last five league matches on their their home patch. Die Alte Dame also beat this opponent just last month, and we feel they will be the ones to progress to the semis with another win in midweek.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
