DFB Pokal · Round of 32 
Our pick1–0Missed
Kaiserslautern chasing form as recent meetings hint at a tight tie in Hannover
Kaiserslautern arrive in good league form and sit third in the 2. Bundesliga, but recent head-to-heads with Hannover suggest a low-scoring, cagey cup tie. Past results between the sides have been competitive and mixed.
📍 Heinz-von-Heiden-Arena
Preview written:
Match report
1. FC Kaiserslautern took the lead at Hannover 96 after 14 minutes when Miloš Luković scored, assisted by Thierry Fidjeu Tazemeta. The visitors wrapped up the win late, Ivan Prtajin scoring in the 86th minute from a Fabian Kunze assist. No red cards were shown.
The stats underline Kaiserslauttern's efficiency: Hannover 96 had more possession (52%) and many more total shots (24 to 5) and corners (15 to 3), while Kaiserslautern had the better finishing with 3 shots on target to Hannover’s 8 and a lower xG (0.54 to 1.54). Top-rated player was J. Krahl (1. FC Kaiserslautern), 8.6. PreviaXI had predicted 1-0 and given Hannover 40% win, 28% draw, 32% away win.
Goals
- 14'Miloš Luković · Thierry Fidjeu Tazemeta · 1. FC Kaiserslautern
- 86'Ivan Prtajin · Fabian Kunze · 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Cards
- 15'Marlon Ritter · 1. FC Kaiserslautern
- 36'Franz Roggow · Hannover 96
- 45+4'Husseyn Chakroun · Hannover 96
- 53'Jean Hugonet · Hannover 96
- 74'Fabian Kunze · 1. FC Kaiserslautern
- 82'Paul Joly · 1. FC Kaiserslautern
- 85'Sandro Wagner · Hannover 96
- 87'Ivan Prtajin · 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Match stats
⭐ Top-rated player: J. Krahl (1. FC Kaiserslautern) 8.6
Ratings and statistics: API-Football.
Confirmed lineups
Hannover 96 · 3-4-3
- 1P. LoretzG
- 5V. GhițăD
- 3B. TomiakD
- 4J. HugonetD
- 14H. ChakrounM
- 13F. RoggowM
- 44E. SahitiM
- 33M. NeubauerM
- 10M. HartelF
- 9B. KällmanF
- 27H. MatsudaF
Coach: S. Wagner
1. FC Kaiserslautern · 3-4-3
- 1J. KrahlG
- 2S. AstaD
- 4M. GyamfiD
- 3A. MurphyD
- 7M. RitterM
- 6F. KunzeM
- 37Leon RobinsonM
- 22Mika HaasM
- 39T. Fidjeu-TazemetaF
- 45M. LukovićF
- 11I. KanateF
Coach: T. Lieberknecht
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| Hannover 96 | 9.0 | 1.0 |
| 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 1.0 | 0.0 |
Last meetings
- 20261. FC Kaiserslautern3-1Hannover 96
- 2025Hannover 961-01. FC Kaiserslautern
- 20251. FC Kaiserslautern0-0Hannover 96
- 2024Hannover 963-11. FC Kaiserslautern
- 2024Hannover 961-1FC Kaiserslautern
PreviaXI model
Model confidence: Open game
- Predicted score
- 1-0
- Expected goals (model)
- 1.36 – 1.18
- Double chance
- 12 · 72%1X 68% · X2 60%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 47%Over 1.5: 73% · Over 3.5: 25%
- Both teams score
- 52%
- Clean sheet
- 31% – 26%Hannover 96–1. FC Kaiserslautern
- Half-time result
- X · 43%1 31% · 2 26%
- Half-time / full-time
- 1/1 · 24%2/2 18% · X/X 17%
- Expected corners
- 9.65.3 – 4.3 · Over 9.5: 49%
- Expected cards
- 4.11.9 – 2.2 · Over 3.5: 58%
- Most likely scores
- 1-113%
- 1-010%
- 0-19%
- 2-19%
- 0-09%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
Kaiserslautern’s league momentum and what’s at stake
- FC Kaiserslautern travel to Hannover holding third place in the 2. Bundesliga with 18 points from nine games. Their league position and recent wins make them favourites in terms of form, while the DFB Pokal tie offers a chance to consolidate confidence and test depth against a team struggling near the bottom of the same division.
A study in form this season
Kaiserslautern have started the domestic campaign well (form: WWDWL) and won their only listed recent match, scoring late in extra time in that game. Hannover, by contrast, sit 16th in the 2. Bundesliga (form: LDLWL) but arrive with an eye-catching attacking output in the single documented match — nine goals scored in that fixture — contrasted with one goal conceded. The season samples are small, but they underline how Kaiserslautern are steadier in the league while Hannover have shown sudden offensive bursts.
Recent meetings have been competitive and low on surprises
The last five encounters between these clubs have been tightly contested. Kaiserslautern beat Hannover 3-1 in January 2026, but Hannover returned two wins in that span (1-0 in August 2025 and 3-1 in September 2024). There was also a 0-0 draw in February 2025 and a 1-1 in March 2024. Overall, those fixtures show no runaway dominance: wins are shared and several matches produced only one or two goals, suggesting another narrow cup game is likely.
Our prediction
PreviaXI’s model slightly favours the home side and projects a narrow, low-scoring outcome. Hannover have the home advantage and have shown they can produce goals in bursts; Kaiserslautern bring steadier league form and defensive solidity in recent outings. Expect a tight match where a single decisive moment separates the teams.
Hannover 96 1-0 1. FC Kaiserslautern
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