Hannover 96 – 1. FC Kaiserslautern

Recent form · Written before the match

Hannover drew 1-1 at home against St. Pauli on 17 October 2026; the club report mentions several chances, but also poorly finished half-chances, with no reliable published xG valeur. Kaiserslautern beat Bochum 2-0 at home on 17 October, recording their fourth home match without conceding a goal this season.

After eight matchdays of 2. Bundesliga, FCK were 2nd with 10 points and a 6-0 goal difference, compared with Hannover in 14th place and an 8-13 record.

These elements mainly concern league play and do not provide a complete series or consistent metrics for directly comparing the teams in the cup.

Head-to-head · Written before the match

The match is presented as the first of three encounters between the clubs during the 2026/27 season; the other two are scheduled in 2. Bundesliga.

No sufficiently documented previous score in the selected pages makes it possible to establish a verifiable head-to-head record here. Even an older precedent would have limited relevance if the squads or coaches have changed.

Absences and returns

At Hannover, Matsuda was ill on 19 October; Gindorf was gradually returning after a viral infection, and Bundu was training after a thigh muscle injury. For Kaiserslautern, Frees was absent with a muscle tear, Rasmussen with a muscle problem, and Kamga with eye inflammation before the match against Bochum on 17 October.

The relevance of these statuses for 28 October has not been confirmed. No match-specific medical list, DFB suspension list, or definitive confirmation of the goalkeepers and starters had been announced.

Context & news

In the scenario favorable to Hannover, the 3-1-4-2 published against St. Pauli can support attacks through the wide channels and second balls around Källman and Chakroun; the venue and the bench are assets, even though the recent attacking output has included incomplete chances. In the scenario favorable to Kaiserslautern, the two latest mentioned results - 1-0 at Waldhof in the cup followed by 2-0 against Bochum - support an approach based on defending, transitions and set pieces, with Lukovic and Kanaté as threats in behind and in duels.

However, this scenario is exposed to the trip and Hannover’s home advantage. The schedule makes rotation plausible: Hannover’s derby at Braunschweig on 25 October and FCK’s trip to Nürnberg on 24 October, without proving that it will occur.

The time and venue are confirmed.