Prediction Preußen Münster vs Hertha BSC 2025/2026 – Betting Tips for the DFB Pokal on 18/08/2025

Cup drama in Münster: can the Imperialists topple the capital club?

Preußen Münster play host to Hertha BSC in the opening round of the DFB Pokal at the atmospheric Preußen-Stadion on 18 August 2025. The setting promises a classic cup encounter: a packed 14,300-capacity ground, referee Martin Petersen under the spotlight, and two sides arriving with contrasting but credible recent form. On paper the bookies lean toward the visitors — Hertha are priced at 2.10 with implied probability close to 48% — yet the storylines suggest this won’t be a straightforward night for the capital club.

Form and recent meetings set the stage

Preußen Münster arrive off a mixed summer and early-season slate. Their recent results read like a rollercoaster: a 1-1 draw with Paderborn on 8 August, a narrow 3-2 defeat to Karlsruher SC earlier in the month and a 1-4 reverse against Heracles Almelo in July, offset by wins over MSV Duisburg and Verl. Their form string shows three wins, three draws and four defeats in the latest ten outings — signs of a side capable of scoring but perhaps vulnerable at the back.

Hertha, meanwhile, have been steadier. A goalless draw with Karlsruher on 10 August and a recent 2-1 loss at Schalke are part of a sequence that features four wins, four draws and only two defeats in their last ten matches. That consistency, together with the odds advantage, paints Hertha as favorites. Still, cup football levels the playing field. The most recent head-to-head between these clubs saw Preußen record a 2-0 league victory over Hertha on 9 May 2025, a reminder that the underdog can bite.

Tactically this tie could pivot on who handles the pressure of a one-off knockout fixture better. Home advantage and familiarity with the stadium will buoy Preußen Münster; Hertha will rely on their steadier run of results and a squad more used to big-club expectations. Names that caught the eye in the last outings were goalkeeper Johannes Schenk for Preußen, earning top rating after the Paderborn draw, and Michaël Cuisance for Hertha in their stalemate with Karlsruher — individual performances that can swing a cup tie.

Final thoughts: expect intensity, cautious opening exchanges and the sort of tight affair that characterises early-round cup ties. Hertha’s superior recent consistency and the bookmakers’ backing make them the likeliest side to progress, but the historical memory of Preußen’s league win this year ensures this will be competitive and far from a foregone conclusion.

Betting suggestion I recommend a 1X2 pick: Hertha BSC to win. The away side’s form and market odds point to them being the best single selection, but this is a cup tie where a conservative stake is sensible given Preußen’s capacity to spring an upset.