Hansa Rostock vs Stuttgart – News and Probable Lineups

The initial round of the DFB Pokal is always an exciting event in the German football calendar, with this season kicking off on a lively Friday night encounter at the Ostseestadion, where Hansa Rostock will host Stuttgart.

Remarkably, this match will be the fourth occurrence in eight years that these clubs have faced off in the opening round, and Stuttgart supporters may feel optimistic as they have secured victories in the previous two meetings without conceding a goal.

Match overview

Hansa Rostock has an intriguing history in the DFB Pokal, having exited in the first round on 13 occasions over the past 20 years, while also reaching the quarter-finals four times during that span.

This year, their focus shifts to heavyweights Stuttgart—a team they have encountered in the first round three times since 2018.

Rostock would love to repeat their unexpected win over the Swabians in 2018; however, given the significant disparity in quality and resources, the third-tier team is entering this matchup as considerable underdogs.

One edge that Daniel Brinkmann and his squad possess over their rivals is that they are already two matches into their 3. Liga campaign.

In their inaugural game, Hansa secured a 3-2 win against Hoffenheim’s reserves before playing an exhilarating 3-3 draw with Waldhof Mannheim.

With early-season momentum behind them, along with positive developments regarding a reduction in the club’s debt, Rostock will aim to tap into the positive vibe as they gear up for a crucial cup challenge.

On the other hand, Stuttgart has invested heavily in this summer’s transfer window, spending more than the total market value of Hansa Rostock’s entire squad—indeed, the difference is vastly significant.

The Swabians were heavily reliant on Deniz Undav for goals last season, prompting the club’s management to support the forward by signing Wolfsburg’s promising 21-year-old Dzenan Pejcinovic for about £20m.

Additionally, Stuttgart has strengthened their attacking lineup by investing approximately £10m each in Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester City and left winger Leo Sauer from Feyenoord Rotterdam.

Having finished fourth last season, Stuttgart has qualified for the Champions League this year, meaning Sebastian Hoeness and his squad will have a demanding schedule across various competitions.

In terms of the DFB Pokal, Stuttgart has enjoyed favorable results in recent years, lifting the trophy in 2025 and ending as runners-up last season.

The club has not been knocked out of the tournament before the quarter-final stage in the last four years and is determined to extend that impressive streak when they visit Rostock on Friday night.

Team News

Hansa Rostock has encountered a few injuries over the summer, with forwards Emil Holten and Peter Kiedl sidelined for the first two games of the season.

Holten has been dealing with a back issue since July, while Kiedl is recovering from a thigh strain.

Attacking midfielder Paul Stock is facing a longer rehabilitation period, having been out since November due to a muscle tear.

Stuttgart also has several players unavailable ahead of the new campaign.

Goalkeeper Dennis Seimen is expected to be out until at least next month because of a hamstring injury, which means Fabian Bredlow is likely to take his place between the posts.

Justin Diehl and Dan-Axel Zagadou are both missing due to hamstring problems, although the former may return in September.

In addition, Lorenz Assignon and Leo Sauer are also injured, suffering from a shoulder injury and a muscle tear respectively, with their recovery timelines yet to be determined.

A key player to watch for the visitors is new striker Pejcinovic, who arrives at Stuttgart with high expectations and will be eager to impress.

Hansa Rostock probable starting XI:

maintenance; Kolle, Carstens, Wallner, Bohnert; Schuster, Dirkner; Krauss, Brzozowski, Lennemann; bird summer

Stuttgart probable starting XI:

Bredlow; Nartey, Chabot, Jeltsch, Mittelstadt; Stiller, Promel; Tiago Tomas, Undav, Fuhrich; Pejcinovic

Hansa Rostock is likely to put in a commendable performance on home turf, but they are expected to struggle against a Stuttgart side that boasts significant quality.

The visitors have remarkable talent at their disposal, and the expectations will be high owing to their recent DFB Pokal record. Therefore, we are predicting an away victory.