Kobel makes a vital save as Dortmund beats Frankfurt on penalties in German Cup

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Gregor Kobel sent Borussia Dortmund into the third round of the German Cup with a diving save that secured a penalty shootout victory against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday.

Midfielder Farès Chaïbi stepped up to take Frankfurt’s fourth penalty, needing to score after Ritsu Doan had fired his shot over the bar earlier. Chaïbi’s low shot to Kobel’s right was brilliantly saved by the Swiss goalkeeper, who got down to hold the ball. This gave Dortmund a 4-2 shootout win, sparking flare-waving celebrations from Dortmund’s away fans.

The loss continues a troubled run for Frankfurt, who have managed just one win in their last six games across all competitions.

The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with Julian Brandt’s goal for Dortmund canceling out an opener from ex-Dortmund player Ansgar Knauff for Frankfurt.

In other German Cup action, Holstein Kiel, a second-tier team, caused an upset by knocking out Wolfsburg with a 1-0 win thanks to Alexander Bernhardsson’s penalty. Wolfsburg played most of the game with 10 men after Jenson Seelt was sent off in the 36th minute for receiving two bookings in quick succession.

Robert Glatzel’s 83rd-minute penalty secured a 1-0 victory for Hamburger SV over 10-man Heidenheim.

Hertha Berlin also advanced with a 3-0 win over Elversberg in a match featuring two second-division teams.

Later Tuesday, Leipzig, Hoffenheim, and St. Pauli will all be in action in the German Cup second round.
https://mymotherlode.com/news/europe/10116061/kobel-makes-a-vital-save-as-dortmund-beats-frankfurt-on-penalties-in-german-cup.html

Hoffenheim vs Koln Prediction and Betting Tips | October 3rd 2025

Hoffenheim will host Köln at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena in a Bundesliga clash this Friday. Both sides currently have seven points from five games, with the visitors sitting seventh in the standings thanks to a superior goal difference.

The hosts, Hoffenheim, are winless in their last two matches. Following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Bayern Munich last month, they managed only a 1-1 draw against Freiburg in their most recent outing. Freiburg took an early lead through Lukas Kübler in the third minute, but Fisnik Asllani equalized just ten minutes later. Hoffenheim, also known as Die Kraichgauer, have not won any of their three games this September and will be eager to start the month with a positive result.

Köln, nicknamed Die Geißböcke (The Billy Goats), enter this matchup after suffering a second consecutive defeat in their previous game last week. They lost 2-1 at home to Stuttgart, despite Jakub Kamiński putting them ahead early in the fourth minute. Stuttgart fought back with a goal in each half to overturn the deficit. Köln are currently winless in their last three league matches and will look to bounce back on the road.

### Hoffenheim vs Köln: Head-to-Head and Key Stats

The two teams have faced each other 31 times across all competitions. Hoffenheim hold the upper hand with 14 wins, while Köln have claimed nine victories. The remaining eight matches ended in draws.

In the current Bundesliga season, Hoffenheim remain unbeaten against Köln in two meetings, registering an away win and a draw at home. Köln have only won once in their last 14 encounters with Hoffenheim, with that solitary victory coming away from home in 2023.

This season, Hoffenheim have lost both of their home games, scoring just one goal in each. Interestingly, the hosts have also scored exactly one goal in four of their last five games against Köln. Meanwhile, Köln have managed one goal in three of their last five meetings.

### Team News and Predictions

Hoffenheim’s defense has been vulnerable at home, conceding seven goals in two matches thus far. They will be looking to tighten up as they aim for their first home win this season. Injuries are a concern, with Adam Hložek, Valentin Gendrey, Kōki Machida, Ozan Kabak, and Hennes Behrens sidelined. Albian Hajdari missed last week’s game due to illness and remains doubtful.

Köln face a challenging task after failing to win in three straight league games, conceding eight goals in the process. However, they remain unbeaten in their last two away clashes against Hoffenheim and have scored four goals in those fixtures. The visitors have no new injury concerns, with only Rav van den Berg, Luca Kilian, and Marius Bülter unavailable for the trip to Baden-Württemberg.

Considering both teams’ recent form and scoring patterns, a draw appears to be the most likely outcome.

### Match Prediction: Hoffenheim 1-1 Köln

### Hoffenheim vs Köln: Betting Tips

– **Tip 1:** Result – Draw
– **Tip 2:** Goals – Under 2.5 goals
– **Tip 3:** Both Teams to Score – Yes
– **Tip 4:** At Least One Goal in the Second Half – Yes

Fans can expect a closely contested match with both sides striving to halt their respective winless runs. Stay tuned for an exciting encounter at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/hoffenheim-vs-koln-prediction-betting-tips-october-3rd-2025