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Wurzburger Kickers will host Hoffenheim at the Flyeralarm Arena on Friday in the opening round of the 2024-25 DFB Pokal campaign. The home side have had a largely positive start to their league campaign and will be looking to build on that this weekend as they make their return to the domestic cup for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
They thrashed Ansbach 5-0 in their last match, with five different players getting on the scoresheet for the fourth-tier side including former Kaiserslautern youngster Maximilian Fesser.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, have endured a sluggish finish to their pre-season campaign after comfortably beating Walldorf and Elvesberg in their first two friendlies. They were beaten 2-0 by Fulham in their final pre-season outing last weekend but remain hopeful of a positive return to competitive action this weekend.
They kicked off their DFB Pokal campaign last season against Lubeck, picking up a 4-1 comeback victory over the fourth-tier outfit via goals from three different players including Croatian forward Andrej Kramaric, who netted a brace.
Wurzburger Kickers vs Hoffenheim Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Friday's game will mark just the second meeting between Wurzburger and Hoffenheim.
- The two teams faced off for the first time in a DFB Pokal clash back in 2019, playing out a 3-3 draw after extra time before the Bundesliga side clinched the win on penalties.
- Hoffenheim managed just two clean sheets in the Bundesliga last season, the fewest in the competition.
- Kickers were the only side in Regionalliga Bayern last season without defeat on home turf.
- Die Kraichgauer have won every of their DFB Pokal openers since the 2016-17 campaign.
Wurzburger Kickers vs Hoffenheim Prediction
Wurzburger have won two of their last three competitive games after going winless in their previous four. They have lost just once on home turf all year and will be looking to give a good account of themselves this weekend.
Hoffenheim ended the previous campaign on a three-game unbeaten streak and will be looking to pick up where they left off this weekend. They are by far the stronger side ahead of Friday's game and should win this one fairly easily.
Prediction: Wurzburger Kickers 1-3 Hoffenheim
Wurzburger Kickers vs Hoffenheim Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Hoffenheim to win
Tip 2 - Goals - Over/under 2.5 - Over 2.5 goals (Five of the visitors' last seven matches have produced more than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: YES (Both sides have found the back of the net in five of the hosts' last seven matches)
