TSG Hoffenheim will travel to face Holstein Kiel in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The draw was made on Saturday evening during the ARD programme 'Sportschau', with Bastian Schweinsteiger pulling out the balls. The match is scheduled for 27 or 28 October under floodlights, with the exact kick-off time still to be confirmed. This news was reported by the club's own outlet, TSG Hoffenheim.
Head coach Chris Ilzer's team secured their place with a convincing 4-0 away win at FC Erzgebirge Aue in the first round. The cup now presents a welcome distraction from a disappointing start to the Bundesliga season. Hoffenheim currently sit 16th in the table with zero points from two games, having scored four goals but conceded six.
Many supporters are already asking about ticket details for the trip to Kiel. The club has requested a little patience on this front. Information regarding advance ticket sales is set to follow in calendar weeks 38 and 39. This means specifics will be communicated in the coming weeks. Fans will need to wait a short while longer for purchasing details.
The draw comes during a tough spell for the Kraichgau side. After two defeats to start the league campaign, the team finds itself six points behind leaders FC Augsburg. The next opportunity to get points on the board arrives this Saturday, 12 September, with a home fixture against VfB Stuttgart. The team's full schedule can be viewed on our fixtures page.
The defence will be looking to tighten up after shipping six goals in the opening two matches. The attack, however, has shown promise with four goals scored. Detailed team statistics for the current season are available on our stats overview.
An away tie at Kiel is a manageable but far from easy task. Holstein Kiel are an experienced second-division side known for being strong at home. For Hoffenheim, it's a chance to build on the positive cup memory from Aue and gather confidence for league matters. Progressing would provide a significant psychological lift.
Player Avdullahu summed up the mood after the initial league setbacks, stating: "We are very disappointed." The cup now offers a route to move past that disappointment. The current league standings can be followed on our standings page.
Before focus shifts entirely to Kiel, the immediate priority is the Bundesliga home game against VfB Stuttgart on 12 September at the PreZero Arena.
