Schalke & Hoffenheim travel to 2. Bundesliga sides, Regionalliga test for high-flying Hertha, Wagner seeks first Hannover win

Schalke and Hoffenheim will hope to avoid a cup upset after Mainz and Elversberg were knocked out by 2. Bundesliga clubs on Tuesday.

Schalke and Hoffenheim will face 2. Bundesliga teams away from home on Wednesday, while Hertha, Hannover and Kaiserslautern are also all in action.

Dynamo Dresden vs. Schalke 04

Miron Muslić’s side have managed to replicate their excellent defensive record in the Bundesliga, but issues in the final third meant they’re in the relegation zone despite only FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund conceded fewer goals than them. 

Schalke did score five in the first round of the DFB-Pokal against Hallescher, and they will now hope to repeat that feat against 2. Bundesliga strugglers Dynamo Dresden. The atmosphere in this tie would make this a standout fixture because of the huge reputations of their fanbases.

Holstein Kiel vs. TSG Hoffenheim 

Hoffenheim’s trip to Kiel will be a game between two clubs who show signs of improvements in their respective last two games. The hosts became the first 2. Bundesliga club to take points off runaway leaders Hertha before recording their first win of the season against Dresden on Sunday.

Hoffenheim’s season was going in the wrong direction before successive 3-0 wins over the then-Ligue 1 leaders Lyon and high-flying Bayer Leverkusen. Hoffenheim beat Kiel 3-1 in a pre-season friendly back in July.

Hannover 96 vs. 1. FC Kaiserslautern 

In the only tie involving two 2. Bundesliga clubs, Sandro Wagner’s Hannover will host the in-form Kaiserslautern side. The visitors are level on points with second-placed Nürnberg after they beat Miroslav Klose’s side on matchday 9.

On the contrary, pre-season promotion favorites Hannover are in the relegation zone as Wagner has only picked up a single point from three games after replacing Christian Titz. Kaiserslautern’s last win in Hannover came in January 2023.

SSV Jeddeloh vs. Hertha BSC

Regionalliga side Jeddeloh eye to knock out a second 2. Bundesliga side after beating Heidenheim 5-2 in the first round. However, they have only picked up 11 points in 11 league games since their surprising win a couple of months ago.

Hertha extended their 2. Bundesliga lead to seven points after their late win over Arminia Bielefeld on Friday. However, Stefan Leitl’s men needed a penalty shootout to get past 3. Liga outfit Saarbrücken in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.