FC Hansa Rostock v VfB Stuttgart, DFB-Pokal first round preview | OneFootball

VfB Stuttgart visit third division side FC Hansa Rostock in the DFB-Pokal first round on Friday, aiming to build on last season’s run to the final. The hosts will look to force an early upset at the Ostseestadion.

According to BuLi News, Rostock opened with a 3-2 win over Hoffenheim II then a 3-3 draw against Mannheim. They finished fifth in each of the past two seasons, missing the top three by three points last term.

Recent Pokal campaigns have stuttered, with first-round exits to Hertha Berlin 5-1 in 2024/25 and Hoffenheim 4-0 last season. In 2023/24 they advanced past FSV Frankfurt on penalties.

Stuttgart’s pre-season returned four wins, one draw and one loss. They overwhelmed lower-league opponents 20-1 on aggregate, drew 2-2 with Paris FC, beat Everton 3-1 and lost 1-0 to Fulham.

This will be the 28th official meeting and the fourth in the Pokal. In the cup, Rostock won 2-0 in 2018, before Stuttgart edged it 1-0 in both 2019 and 2020. Their last league clash came in 2007/08.

Stuttgart have surged since finishing ninth in 2020/21 after a second-tier stint the year before, taking second in 2023/24, lifting the Pokal in 2024/25 and finishing fourth last season to reach the Champions League. Rostock have remained outside the top flight since 2007/08.

Rostock are expected to stay unchanged, with Andreas Voglsammer on three goals and one assist in two matches and new signing Bernie Lennemann on two in two. Full backs Niklas Kölle and Florian Bohnert reinforce the defence.

Stuttgart have doubts over Jamie Leweling, Luca Jaquez and Ramon Hendriks, yet Deniz Undav, Ermedin Demirović and Chris Führich are available after combining for 56 goals and assists last season. Bilal El Khannouss and Dzenan Pejcinovic add further threat, totalling 13 goals last season. On paper the visitors are favourites, though Rostock’s volatility could make this a far trickier opener.

Source: BuLi News

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”