Pre-match facts ahead of the start of RBL's cup campaign in Sandhausen

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RB Leipzig

·14 August 2025

Pre-match facts ahead of the start of RBL's cup campaign in Sandhausen

Pre-season is over and it's finally time for competitive football to return! RB Leipzig kick off their DFB-Pokal campaign with a first-round tie away at fourth-tier side SV Sandhausen this weekend. Saturday's 15:30 kick off will be the sixth meeting between the two clubs in professional football, with the head-to-head record currently even (W2 each, D1).

Nevertheless, RB Leipzig will want to ensure they progress to the second round on Saturday. Let's take a look at the pre-match facts.

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1. Plenty of Pokal success for RBL

RB Leipzig's recent record in the first round is extremely impressive, having won each of their last eight games at this stage, scoring 33 goals at an average of 4.1 per game.

The Red Bulls' record win came in the 2022/23 season, an 8-0 victory against Teutonia Ottensen. RBL have also reached the semi-finals in three of the last four seasons, winning the competition twice (2022, 2023).

2. A massive rebuild in Sandhausen

Within the last three years, SV Sandhausen have dropped from the 2. Bundesliga to the Regionalliga, marking the first time in 19 years that they are in the fourth tier of German football. Coach Olaf Janßen has had an extremely busy summer, saying goodbye to 35 players and welcoming 20 new ones to the club.

Sandhausen narrowly lost their first two league games of the new season (2-1 against FSV Frankfurt, 3-2 against Stuttgarter Kickers). They did at least record a 4-1 win over SG Heidelberg-Kirchheim in a regional cup fixture. SVS have lost each of their last six DFB-Pokal matches against Bundesliga opposition.

3. Lois Openda in good form

Loïs Openda has shown in pre-season that he's ready for competitive football to start again. The striker netted five goals in four friendlies, including a brace in the 7-0 win over Toulouse. The Belgian international has also enjoyed playing in the DFB-Pokal, scoring three times so far in the competition, including one goal in our 4-1 victory in the first round at Rot-Weiss Essen last season.

4. First game in charge for the new coach

Saturday's game in Sandhausen will be Ole Werner's first competitive game in charge of RB Leipzig. So far, the 37-year-old is undefeated from his four meetings with SVS (W2, D2) with previous clubs Holstein Kiel and Werder Bremen.

"I'm really looking forward to the game. We're motivated, have prepared well and want to start the new season with a win in Sandhausen," said Ole at the pre-match press conference.

More quotes from his press conference

5. Reunion with an old face

A former fan favourite at RB Leipzig, Timo Röttger, joined SVS as their new head of scouting over the summer. Röttger played 98 competitive games for RBL from 2011 to 2014, scoring 20 goals and playing a big part in the club's promotion to the 3. Liga in 2013 and to the 2. Bundesliga in 2014.