Bundesliga side Hoffenheim will kick off the 2024-25 campaign when they face Wurzburger Kickers in Friday's DFB-Pokal clash.
The fourth-tier hosts will be looking to pull off a major upset as they make their first Pokal appearance since 2021-22.
Match preview
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Wurzburger Kickers are set to compete in the Pokal for the first time in three years after they earned qualification via their league performance.
Last season, they won 25, drew seven and lost just two of their 34 league matches to win the Regionalliga Bayern title at a canter.
Their title win secured them a spot in the Pokal and a place in the promotion playoffs, where they experienced a penalty-shootout heartbreak at the hands of Hannover's reserve side, ensuring that they will compete in the fourth tier for at least one more season.
In contrast to Friday's opponents, Wurzburger Kickers have already begun their league campaign, with their opening four matches producing two wins, one draw and one defeat.
After beating Ansbach 5-0 last Friday, they will now turn their focus to cup action as they look to spring a surprise and make it past the first round for the first time since 2016-17.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim will enter the 2024-25 season with hopes of building upon the progress that they made with their seventh-place finish last term.
Pellegrino Matarazzo's side collected 46 points from 34 matches to clinch a top-seven spot and qualification to the Europa League main draw.
Unfortunately for Hoffenheim, they have received a blow on the eve of the new season, having seen last season's top scorer Max Beier complete a permanent move to Borussia Dortmund.
While Beier has bid farewell, Hoffenheim have made one addition to Matarazzo's squad, having recruited midfielder Alexander Prass from Sturm Graz in Austria.
Prass will want to help his new side avoid any potential upset in Friday's cup contest, with Die Kraichgauer looking to progress from the first round for a ninth consecutive season.
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Team News
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The fourth-tier hosts are unable to call upon Daniel Hagele, Noah Awassi and Peter Kurzweg due to their respective injury issues.
Wurzburger Kickers head coach Markus Zschiesche could be tempted to select the same side that started the recent league win over Ansbach.
As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon the services of Tom Bischof, Ozan Kabak, David Jurasek, Umut Tohumcu, Finn Ole Becker and Ihlas Bebou.
Defender Stanley Nsoki has returned to training following an ankle issue, but it remains to be seen whether he will be involved after missing all of Hoffenheim's pre-season friendlies.
Prass played 68 minutes in the recent friendly defeat to Fulham, and the summer addition could now be handed his competitive debut.
Wurzburger Kickers possible starting lineup:
Hipper; Wieselberger, Hartl, Kraus, Montcheu; Zaiser, Meisel; Hannemann, Harz, Junge-Albiol; Girth
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Akpoguma, Grillitsch, Szalai; Kaderabek, Promel, Stach, Bulter; Kramaric, Prass; Bebou
We say: Wurzburger Kickers 1-3 Hoffenheim
Wurzburger Kickers will be dreaming of pulling off a major upset, but we think that Hoffenheim will showcase their Bundesliga quality to crush the home side's cup hopes with a comfortable away victory.
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