National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Holstein Kiel or Darmstadt 98 that keep their silverware dream alive.
It's no vacation for neither Holstein Kiel nor Darmstadt 98 as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Holstein Kiel form and stats
Holstein Kiel have reached this DFB Pokal stage through battling and winning against Bayern München and Rielasingen-Arlen. Last season, Holstein Kiel's DFB Pokal journey ended in the 2nd round.5-2-3 (win-draw-lost) are the 2. Bundesliga numbers at home for Holstein Kiel so far this season.
Holstein's previous game was a 2. Bundesliga match also played at home, ending 3-1 versus Eintracht Braunschweig. The home side are looking to build on that result. A 1-1 draw away in the 2. Bundesliga before that, with Paderborn the opponent.
This is expected to be a close game, with Holstein Kiel perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Holstein as a small favourite), we find nine games. Holstein Kiel has won four of these, drawn one and lost four.
Holstein have proved capable of finding the net in their games here at Holstein-Stadion with 17 goals in 10 league matches. On the other hand, Holstein have conceded 14 goals.
Darmstadt 98 form and stats
The traveling awayteam has defeated Magdeburg and Dynamo Dresden in order to reach 3rd Round of DFB Pokal. Last season their DFB Pokal adventure ended in the 2nd round.Playing away, Darmstadt 98 have won 3 games, drawn 2 and suffered 5 defeats in the 2. Bundesliga this season.
Darmstadt 98 are the visiting side once again, their previous game being the 1-1 draw at Jahn Regensburg. Prior to that match, a home win 2-1 against Sandhausen in the 2. Bundesliga.
So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Darmstadt 98 playing away and similar expectations, we found 14 relevant matches. Results were three Darmstadt wins, three draws and eight defeats.
A new game in only four days for Darmstadt, the 2. Bundesliga home match versus Nurnberg. Busy days.
The travelling fans enjoy Darmstadt 98's attacking play in away games, having scored 18 goals in 10 league matches away. For Darmstadt 98, more than two goals on average per game end up in their own net. There's been improvement defensively lately, as only -1 of these goals has been conceded in their last 3 away matches.
Head 2 Head
Last nine meetings between the teams: Holstein won three, Darmstadt 98 won three and three draws. three games with over 2,5 goals, six matches with two goals or less.Top Goalscorers
  S. Dursun 9 goals |  T. Kempe 8 goals |  J. Serra 7 goals |
Holstein Kiel missing players
Darmstadt 98 missing players
| Holstein Kiel | Darmstadt 98 | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 13 | Played | P | 13 | 25 | ||
| 13 | 7 | Won | W | 5 | 8 | ||
| 7 | 3 | Drew | D | 3 | 7 | ||
| 5 | 3 | Lost | L | 5 | 10 | ||
| 48 | 24 | Scored | S | 26 | 42 | ||
| 31 | 18 | Conceded | C | 25 | 43 | ||
| 96% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 92% | ||
| 88% | 85% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 92% | ||
| 56% | 77% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 85% | 76% | ||
| 40% | 54% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 54% | 48% | ||
| 16% | 8% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 38% | 24% | ||
| 68% | 85% | BTTS | BTTS | 69% | 60% | ||
| 28% | 15% | Clean Sheets | C S | 15% | 24% | ||
| 8% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 15% | 24% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1.7 | 1.7 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.9 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 2 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 3 | ||
| 11.3 | 11.8 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 12.7 | 11.7 | ||
| 4.1 | 4.2 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 5.6 | 5 | ||
| 49% | 44% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 36% | 35% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Hamburger SV | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 40 |
| 2 | Bochum | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 21 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 36 |
| 3 | Holstein Kiel | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 32 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 13 | 36 |
| 4 | Greuther Fürth | 19 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 12 | 14 | 35 |
| 5 | Karlsruher SC | 19 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 33 | 27 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 15 | 6 | 32 |
| 6 | Fortuna Dusseldorf | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 28 | 24 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 32 |
| 7 | Erzgebirge Aue | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 25 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| 8 | Hannover 96 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 28 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 7 | 26 |
| 9 | Paderborn | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 23 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 26 |
| 10 | Heidenheim | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 0 | 26 |
| 11 | Jahn Regensburg | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 26 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 13 | -3 | 24 |
| 12 | Darmstadt 98 | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 30 | 34 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 21 | -4 | 22 |
| 13 | Osnabruck | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 13 | -8 | 22 |
| 14 | Nurnberg | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 25 | 31 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 15 | -6 | 20 |
| 15 | St. Pauli | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 29 | 36 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 19 | -7 | 19 |
| 16 | Sandhausen | 19 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 37 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 22 | -16 | 18 |
| 17 | Eintracht Braunschweig | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 39 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 23 | -21 | 17 |
| 18 | Wurzburger Kickers | 19 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 21 | 39 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 19 | -18 | 12 |
- German Football Association - (also in English)