Holstein Kiel vs Stuttgart Prediction: Defending champions to add to their momentum

We're into the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal and holders VfB Stuttgart make the trip to Holstein Kiel on Wednesday (19:45 GMT) hoping to advance to the semi-finals. The visitors have won their last three competitive matches coming into this cup tie.

Read on for my Holstein Kiel vs Stuttgart predictions, featuring the latest match odds and team news.

Team News

Holstein Kiel defender Carl Johansson is not far away from returning from a knee injury but this game will come too soon for him. Fellow defenders Frederik Roslyng and Marco Komenda are considered doubts due to illness but could still be in with a chance of making the squad.

Patrick Erras remains sidelined due to concussion protocols, with Alexander Bernhardsson (foot) also in the treatment room.

Football Odds

Tiago Tomas and Lazar Jovanovic are absent for Stuttgart because of back and muscle injuries respectively.

Their quality in depth will allow them to deploy Bilal El Khannous and Jamie Leweling in the final third to aid front man Deniz Undav.

Dan-Axel Zagadou is hoping to return to action soon following a couple of months out with a tendon problem, but he won't have a part to play on Wednesday.

Today's Football Fixtures

Holstein Kiel vs Stuttgart Odds

Holstein Kiel are 9/2 to stun the holders in 90 minutes and they have won two of their last three home games.

The draw is marketed at 16/5, while Stuttgart are the 1/2 favourites to prevail in regulation time.

The visitors have scored three goals in two of their previous three competitive matches, and they are 13/8 to hit over 2.5 goals on Wednesday.

Match Result & Over 2.5 Goals - Stuttgart & Yes @ 11/10

A division separates the two teams coming into this clash, and there is a big gulf in class between the two squads on paper. Stuttgart, as the reigning champions, are hoping to defend their crown this season while also battling for a top-four spot in the Bundesliga.

Boss Sebastian Hoeness has a lot of quality at his disposal, and I think the attacking players will prove too much for the hosts, who sit in the bottom half of the 2. Bundesliga table after relegation from the top flight last season.

Stuttgart head here off the back of a three-game winning streak, which has seen them score seven goals, having hit both Borussia Monchengladbach and Young Boys for three during this run.

For that reason, I think a smart play on Wednesday is to combine over 2.5 goals with an away victory. It's also worth noting that at least three goals were scored in both Bundesliga meetings between the two sides last season.

Anytime Goalscorer - Deniz Undav @ 11/10

This is a selection I have tipped a few times this season, and it's simply because Undav is good at scoring goals. The former Brighton & Hove Albion man wasn't given much of a shot in England, but being back in his homeland, he has reached new heights with Stuttgart, which has led to him getting capped by the German national team.

The striker has scored 14 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions this campaign for Die Roten, and he has two in his previous three outings coming into this clash. Undav also opened his DFB-Pokal account for the term in the last round against VfL Bochum.

The forward was also on the scoresheet in the home league clash with Holstein Kiel in 2024/25, and I believe he will play a part in shattering their cup dreams on Wednesday.

He is 11/10, which has an implied probability of 47.6% to find the net here.

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