Hamburg vs. Holstein Kiel: DFB Cup LIVE blog and team news

Hamburg are looking to build on Sunday's impressive Bundesliga victory over VfB Stuttgart when they host second-tier side Holstein Kiel in the DFB Cup round of 16 on Wednesday (kick-off 8.45pm CET).

Having picked up eight points from their first six Bundesliga assignments this season, Hamburg ended a five-game winless run in the top-flight with a dramatic victory over Stuttgart. Fábio Vieira scored with virtually the last kick of the game at the Volksparkstadion to lift Merlin Polzin's team four points clear of the bottom three.

"We all pulled together, kept finding answers and rewarded ourselves," Polzin said after the 2-1 triumph. "We suffered a lot and defended well, but we had a good grip on our opponents' versitility in several periods – and ultimately made the most of our opportunity."

Watch: Hamburg 2-1 Stuttgart - highlights

Polzin's team are determined to build on that success against a Kiel side who have been similarly inconsistent in 2025/26, having won four, drawn three and lost seven of their 14 second-division games this term.

The Storks were beaten 1-0 at home by Hertha Berlin at the weekend but showed just what they are capable of in the previous round of the cup, triumphing 1-0  at Wolfsburg to book their place in the last 16.

"We haven't got as many points as we'd hoped," defender Marco Komenda said after the reverse to Hertha - Kiel's third loss in four league games. "All I can say is that the team are doing everything they can to win games - even if it's not enough at the moment. The important thing now is to find a way to win games again, no matter what."

LIVE blog!

VS

Hamburg

Wed, 03.12 19:45

Kiel

DFB Pokal
Round of 16 Round of 16 Volksparkstadion

Marcel Rapp on facing Hamburg

“We have to prepare well. We’ve been watching Hamburg a lot. Will they approach the game like a Bundesliga match, or will they do things a little differently? They will be high on confidence after the win over Stuttgart, so we have to be prepared for that. We know about their qualities, but we also fancy our chances. We’re certain we can beat them.”

© IMAGO/Sven Heidmann

Former Kiel midfielder Remberg on facing Kiel

"I was promoted to the Bundesliga with Kiel, so they're a special club to me. The fact that we're meeting again a year later is obviously very special. We're really looking forward to the game and are eager to reach the next round. It's HSV's first home game in the cup for three years. There's no need to fire anyone up - everyone is extremely motivated."

© XX / DFL/Getty Images/Jasmin Walter

Early Hamburg team news

Meanwhile, Merlin Polzin will be without Robert Glatzel against Kiel after the striker suffered a thigh injury in Sunday's win over Stuttgart. Captain Youssuf Poulsen, Warmed Omari and Daniel Elfadli are also sidelined.

© IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH/ Witke

Early Kiel team news

Steven Skrzybski und Andu Kelati remain sidelined through injury, while Carl Johansson is set to miss Wednesday's game with a knee problem. John Tolkin (muscle issue) and Marco Komenda (illness) are doubts, but Robert Wagner is on the brink of a return after missing Kiel's last two league matches with a thigh injury.

© IMAGO/OLE JACOBSEN

2:15

Watch: Holstein Kiel 0-1 Hertha Berlin - highlights

Kiel have lost each of their last two league games after Hertha took the points back to Berlin at the weekend. It's just one Bundesliga 2 win in eight for Kiel now.

Head-to-head

Kiel certainly have had the upper hand in recent meetings between these two, losing just one of the last 12. The Storks were victorious in both Bundesliga 2 meetings last term.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

Kiel form

The Storks, on the other hand, have won just one of their past eight Bundesliga 2 games. Their victory over Wolfsburg in the previous round is one of only two wins in nine games across all competitions.

© DFL/Getty Images/Simon Hofmann

Hamburg form

The win over Stuttgart ended a run of five Bundesliga games without a win for Hamburg. It also opened up a bit of a gap between HSV and the relegation zone in what is their first season back in the top flight.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn

1:03

Watch: Hamburg 0-1 Holstein Kiel - previous meeting

These two last met on Matchday 30 of the 2023/24 Bundesliga 2 campaign, with Kiel edging the game. The visitors ultimately went up that season.

1:02

Watch: Hamburg 2-1 VfB Stuttgart - highlights

Fábio Vieira's last-gasp winner earned all three points for Hamburg against Stuttgart at the weekend.

Kiel beaten in Bundesliga 2

The Storks suffered a narrow 1-0 home defeat to in-form Hertha Berlin at the weekend. Suffice to say, they will be eager to make amends at the Volksparkstadion on Wednesday.

© IMAGO/Jasper Lorenz

Hamburg - the story so far

Hamburg's run to the Round of 16 also featured fourth-tier opposition, but they certainly made hard work of their opening-round encounter against FK Pirmasens, who were leading until Guilherme Ramos' 92nd-minute equaliser. Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer then scored the winner for the Bundesliga side in extra time. In the second round, Hamburg overcame ten-man Heidenheim thanks to a late Robert Glatzel penalty.

© IMAGO/Jan Huebner

Kiel - the story so far

Kiel's opening-round fixture was against fourth-tier FC 08 Homburg, whom they overcame 2-0. In the second round, they pulled off an impressive upset, beating Bundesliga side Wolfsburg 1-0 thanks to an Alexander Bernhardsson penalty.

© IMAGO/Franziska Gora

Welcome!

Welcome and thank you for joining us for build-up and live coverage of the DFB Cup Round of 16 match between Hamburg and Kiel. The game is scheduled to kick off at 8:45 p.m. CET on Wednesday.

About the clubs

Hamburger SV

Volksparkstadion

Holstein Kiel

Holstein-Stadion