Hertha BSC Eyes Historic DFB-Pokal Quarter-Finals Amid Berlin Derby Dreams

Hertha BSC is gearing up for a pivotal DFB-Pokal round of 16 showdown against Kaiserslautern at Berlin's Olympiastadion this Tuesday at 18:00. The match is especially significant for Hertha's coach Stefan Leitl, who has never reached the quarter-finals in his coaching career. The team, fueled by a five-game winning streak in the 2. Liga and a recent 1-0 win over Kaiserslautern, is chasing the ambition of reaching the cup final on home turf.

Coach Leitl highlighted the team's resolve, saying, "Every time you stand in front of the crowd, you are reminded of this longing," underscoring the collective desire to progress. However, Hertha faces a challenge as defender Deyovaisio Zeefuik is suspended, while midfielder Diego Demme returns after an injury. Leitl emphasized the strength of his squad depth and the necessity of tough player selections, noting that all players must contribute even if not all can be on the pitch simultaneously. Notably, striker Dawid Kownacki, the recent match-winner against Kiel, will start on the bench as the team sticks to its successful strategy.

Beyond Hertha's immediate match, there is excitement around the potential for a Berlin city derby in the later stages of the DFB-Pokal. Both Hertha BSC and Union Berlin harbor aspirations of meeting in the final scheduled for May 23, 2026, at the Olympiastadion. While the chances of a quarter-final derby stand at 14.4%, the likelihood of a final featuring both Berlin clubs is modest at just under 1%. Union Berlin faces a tough match against Bayern Munich but boasts an unbeaten record against them this year. The last time Berlin hosted a city derby in the cup final was 42 years ago in 1983.

The stakes are high, with the DFB-Pokal winners set to earn €4.32 million and runners-up €2.88 million, alongside substantial fanfare as each club receives about 25,000 tickets for the final. A Berlin derby final would not only offer thrilling football but also mark the first direct confrontation between the clubs’ presidents, Fabian Drescher (Hertha) and Dirk Zingler (Union).