Lübeck vs Werder Bremen – News and Probable Lineups

Luneburger SK Hansa has reached the first round of the DFB Pokal for the first time in nine years, and their reward is an exciting Saturday matchup against the formidable Werder Bremen.

This fifth-tier team has started their league campaign sluggishly, but will now shift focus to the cup where they will face Bundesliga opponents.

Match overview

LSK Hansa has advanced to the first round of the DFB Pokal for the third time and aims to challenge their Bundesliga rivals.

In the 2008-09 season, the team suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of VfB Stuttgart, but they fared better nine years later, losing 3-1 to Mainz 05.

An opportunity presents itself again for the Lower Saxony club, although they currently find themselves lacking momentum with a rough start to their league fixture.

Competing in the Oberliga Niedersachsen, LSK Hansa commenced their season with a 3-2 defeat away against Eintracht Braunschweig II and a 2-2 draw at home against Meppen II.

Leading the team is Tarek Gibbah, who took charge in the summer of 2026 and guided his side to a respectable sixth-place finish last season.

Werder Bremen found themselves in the relegation zone just ten weeks before the conclusion of the last season, but a late managerial change saw Daniel Thioune guide the club to safety.

The German manager helped his team secure five wins in the final matches of the season—more victories than the club achieved in the first 23 rounds of the league.

Bremen is intent on delivering a significantly more competitive season this time around and, to facilitate this goal, they have executed major changes in the summer transfer window.

Notable departures include Mio Backhaus, Romano Schmid, and Leonardo Bittencourt, with the first two transferring for substantial fees.

On the other hand, the club has invested heavily in defense, acquiring new center-back Oskar Wojcik from Polish team Cracovia, as well as goalkeeper Karl Hein from Arsenal. Additionally, Niclas Fullkrug’s loan signing is aimed at boosting the team’s attacking capabilities.

Regarding the DFB Pokal, the club has been knocked out in the first round three times in the past five seasons, although they achieved a quarter-final spot during the 2024-25 campaign.

L.D.

Team News

LSK Hansa is expected to field experienced goalkeeper Arne Exner over the newly arrived Tommy Henze.

The club has added three new players to their defensive lineup this summer, but the back four is likely to remain unchanged for this DFB Pokal matchup.

Teen midfielder Julien Grundker is anticipated to see action following his transfer from Energie Cottbus.

As for Werder Bremen, new acquisitions Wojcik and Hein will be absent due to muscle injuries, preventing them from making their debuts this weekend.

In addition, Felix Agu is dealing with a calf issue, while Eren Dinkci and Niklas Stark are both grappling with muscular complaints.

Head coach Thioune has many options in attack, with Salim Musah, Cedric Itten, and Fullkrug all available to him.

LSK Hansa probable starting XI:

Exner; Hubner, Wilson, Muhlack, Wolk; Grundker, Perera; Borges, Scheuer, Kunze; Dorr

Werder Bremen probable starting XI:

Bat; Schmetgens, Pieper, Friedl, Deman; Lynen; Stage, Chuki; Njinmah, Mbangula; Musah

LSK Hansa aims to put in a strong performance, though the significant difference in quality may be a deciding factor.

With four divisions separating the teams, Werder Bremen is expected to come out on top with relative ease.