Preview: Hamburger SV vs. Karlsruher SC - prediction, team news, lineups

With a place in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals on the line, second-tier duo Hamburger SV and Karlsruher SC will do battle at the Volksparkstadion on Wednesday.

Both sides have progressed through three rounds to reach this stage, with the hosts most recently dumping out FC Koln and the visitors having seen off 1860 Munich.

Match preview

© Reuters

Hamburger SV kicked off their DFB-Pokal campaign with a trip to Eintracht Braunschweig in August, and, following a narrow 2-1 win, they would draw 1-1 away at Nurnberg and eventually progress after a penalty shootout.

Tim Walter's side were then handed an away tie against top-flight Koln, and they would have to go through a second consecutive penalty shootout as Robert Glatzel's extra-time opener was cancelled out in the final minutes.

Der Dino were again on the winning side in that shootout, booking their place in the final eight against the odds as a result.

While Walter's men have enjoyed a strong season in Germany's second tier, they will head into Wednesday looking to correct their form after a draw with Sandhausen and a 3-2 home defeat to Werder Bremen most recently.

Having been blessed with a home tie against fellow 2. Bundesliga side Karlsruher, Der Dino will look to seal their spot in the final four with a win at the Volksparkstadion on Wednesday.

© Reuters

However, the visitors arrive looking to continue an eye-catching cup run, having firstly dumped Sportfreunde Lotte out of the competition with a 4-1 away win.

Christian Eichner's side were then given the tough task of a trip to Bayer Leverkusen, but they prevailed against the odds with a 2-1 win as Choi Kyoung-rok hit the decisive goal on the hour mark after Lucas Cueto's opener was cancelled out by Jeremie Frimpong.

While KSC have been slightly less impressive in Germany's second tier than their opponents this season, sitting 11 points and six places worse off, Eichner's men do come in with more momentum, having picked up seven points from their last three league outings.

They firstly put an end to a difficult run with a 4-1 thrashing of Nurnberg on home turf, before making it consecutive victories by defeating Holstein Kiel 2-0 away from home thanks to goals from Daniel O'Shaughnessy and Fabian Schleusener.

Now on the back of a commendable 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Schalke, KSC will hope to extend their impressive form with what would be an eye-catching away win to secure their progression.

Team News

© Reuters

Hamburger's line will be led by Robert Glatzel, who has netted 17 goals in 27 appearances for the club since his summer switch from Cardiff City.

Midfielder Sonny Kittel is another key man in Walter's system, having contributed seven goals and a league-high tally of 10 assists in the second tier this season.

Karlsruher have a proven goalscorer of their own, with Philipp Hofmann having found the net 12 times alongside four assists in 24 league appearances this term.

Elsewhere, exciting winger Choi Kyoung-rok added to his goals tally in their draw with Schalke last time out, and he should continue to play an important role on the left flank.

Daniel Gordon and Daniel O'Shaughnessy will likely continue to partner up at the heart of a back four for Eichner's side.

Hamburger SV possible starting lineup:
Fernandes; Heyer, Vuskovic, Schonlau, Muheim; Reis, Meffert, Kittel; Jatta, Glatzel, Alidou

Karlsruher SC possible starting lineup:
Gersbek; Thied, O'Shaughnessy, Gordon, Heise; Goller, Gondorf, Breithaupt, Wanitzek, Choi; Hofmann

We say: Hamburger SV 2-1 Karlsruher SC

Given both sides have impressed to reach this stage, we predict an even encounter and one that could certainly go either way.

Over the course of the season, Walter's men seem the slightly stronger of the two sides, and we just give them the edge with home advantage.

Previews by email