RB Leipzig vs. Hamburg: DFB Cup probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Nkunku was Leipzig's hero as they lifted the cup aloft into the Berlin sky last May after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Freiburg. After putting eight past lower-league Teutonia Ottensen in the first round, they continue their title defence against high-flying Hamburg. Timo Werner got a hat-trick that day but missed the weekend's victory over Hertha Berlin through illness as Leipzig extended their unbeaten streak to five in all competitions, including back-to-back wins over Celtic in the UEFA Champions League which have taken Die Roten Bullen into the top two in their group and revived their hopes of a place in the knockout stages. Marco Rose could still make some changes to his starting XI for the visit of HSV, with Benjamin Henrichs in line for a recall on the right of the defence. Experienced custodian Orjan Nyland has been drafted in due to the lengthy absence of Peter Gulacsi, and the Norwegian custodian may make his first appearance between the posts as he competes with Janis Blaswich.

Hamburg travel to Leipzig with their tails between their legs after losing the city derby with St. Pauli 3-0 on Friday night. That defeat - just their third of the season - saw the northerners relinquish top spot in Bundesliga 2 to Darmstadt, although promotion back to the Bundesliga remains well within the Red Shorts' hands. For this cup diversion, coach Tim Walter will consider changes as a reaction to that defeat, although captain Sebastian Schonlau is available and can be expected to start despite picking up a red card at the weekend; his suspension for that aberration will apply in Bundesliga 2 next weekend. Left-back Tim Leibold is out, on the other hand, with a thigh strain sidelining him at least for another week. Miro Muheim, who has made the left full-back role his own this season, will continue in Leibold's absence.

Match stats

Nkunku leads the Leipzig scoring chart this season with 10, including one in all four competitions the club has appeared in.

Werner scored the first two of his now 102 Leipzig goals against Hamburg back in 2016/17.

Holders Leipzig have reached the final three times in the last four years, but have also gone out at this stage three times in their 10 previous DFB Cup campaigns.

Robert Glatzel leads the Hamburg scoring stakes with seven goals, followed by Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer (five). No one else has more than two.

HSV won the last of their three DFB Cup titles back in 1986/87, with semi-final exits to Freiburg last year and Leipzig in 2018/19 their best runs in the last decade.

The home team has never won in five renditions of this fixture (three Leipzig victories, one for HSV, and one draw).

Probable teams

Leipzig: Nyland - Henrichs, Orban (c), Diallo, Raum - Kampl, Schlager - Szoboszlai, Nkunku, Forsberg - Silva

Out: Gulacsi (knee), Halstenberg (suspended), Klostermann (ankle), Laimer (ankle), Olmo (knee)

Doubtful: Werner (illness)

Coach: Marco Rose

Hamburg: Heuer Fernandes - Heyer, Schonlau (c), Vuskovic, Muheim - Benes, Meffert, Reis - Jatta, Glatzel, Königsdörffer

Out: Heil (foot), Leibold (muscular), Megeed (metatarsal)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Tim Walter

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