On Sunday, Rot-Weiss Essen will face Hamburger SV in the 1st round of the DFB Cup. The role of the favourites is clearly distributed.

Rot-Weiss Essen and Hamburger SV have already faced each other five times in the DFB Cup. The result: two victories for RWE, three times HSV got the upper hand. Next Sunday (13 August, 1 p.m.), the two traditional clubs will meet for the sixth time in the cup competition at the sold-out Hafenstraße in Essen.

The last time the Red-Whites were in the DFB Cup was in 2020/21, where they sensationally made it all the way to the quarter-finals. Prize money of €431,200 would await for reaching the 2nd round. But clearly: RWE is only the outsider in this highlight match.

While the Essen team was only able to celebrate staying in the 3rd division on the penultimate matchday last season, HSV failed for the second time in a row in the relegation for promotion to the Bundesliga. This season, Hamburg is once again one of the favourites for promotion.

Head coach Tim Walter’s team proved just how good the former Bundesliga dinosaur is in its season opener against relegated FC Schalke 04. In an entertaining match, the second-division team set off a veritable offensive fireworks display, firing 31 shots on goal. After an intense 99 (!) minutes, HSV deserved to win 5:3.

In the following away duel at Karlsruher SC it looked for a long time like the second victory, but KSC could score the 2:2 in injury time. Nevertheless, Hamburg’s start to the season has been successful with four points from two games.

RWE will face a strong, fast-paced and attack-minded team on Sunday. However, HSV also cultivate a very risky style of play and are thus susceptible to individual mistakes. So there are definitely chances to annoy the Hanseatic League.

For this to succeed, Essen will have to watch out for one duo in particular: Robert Glatzel and Laszlo Benes have been in excellent form since the start of the season. Top scorer Glatzel scored three times in two games and set up one goal. Midfield engine Benes even has three goals and two assists. Both top performers scored six of the seven HSV goals and are the top scorers in the 2nd division. Last season, Glatzel and Benes were already directly involved in 41 goals.

One thing is clear: If Rot-Weiss Essen wants to pull off the surprise, they have to get a grip on these two difference players…