How to Watch Sandhausen vs RB Leipzig in the 2025 DFB-Pokal: Commentary and Coverage Details

The eagerly anticipated first-round match of the 2025-26 German Cup (DFB-Pokal) between Sandhausen and RB Leipzig is scheduled for Saturday, 16 August 2025, with kickoff set for 14:30 UK time at the BWT-Stadion am Hardtwald in Sandhausen, Germany. Fans in the UK and elsewhere can catch the game live primarily via the world feed, which is being used by several broadcasters globally. This match offers a valuable insight into RB Leipzig’s fresh start under new head coach Ole Werner, facing a Sandhausen side recently relegated to Germany's fourth tier.

Broadcast coverage is available on DFB Play TV — accessible solely through geo-restriction — and ESPN+ in the USA, both utilising the world feed commentators. This means viewers in these regions will experience the match with the same primary commentary sourced globally. The main commentator for the world feed is Kevin Hatchard, a well-respected football commentator known for his clear, informative style and extensive experience covering international football tournaments. Kevin Hatchard’s career spans multiple high-profile matches, and his voice provides a consistent and authoritative narration for the DFB-Pokal fixture.

For fans not able to access these channels, ESPN+ will provide comprehensive coverage in the United States, streaming the match live along with pre- and post-game analysis. The UK, however, concentrates on the DFB Play TV platform, which is geo-restricted and officially streams coverage authorised by the German Football Association.

This season, RB Leipzig is eager to improve on their disappointing 2024-25 Bundesliga finish, where they ended seventh and missed out on European competition for the first time since 2016-17. They have brought in Ole Werner, previously at Werder Bremen, to revitalise the squad. Meanwhile, Sandhausen faces a steep challenge after their recent relegation to the fourth tier, seeking to make an impact in the cup with home advantage at the Hardtwaldstadion.

From a historical perspective, this fixture serves as a classic David vs Goliath matchup in the DFB-Pokal tradition. Past contests show that while Sandhausen can rally (notably their narrow 3-2 defeat against Köln in last season’s cup), Leipzig typically dominates higher-tier opposition.

About the commentators and presenters: Kevin Hatchard has built a reputation commenting on European and international football, bringing clarity and excitement to the world feed broadcasts. The use of world feed commentary allows consistency in high-quality narration, especially for global viewers tuning in from various platforms like DFB Play TV and ESPN+. Broadcasters tend to prefer this method for early-round cup games where local commentary teams may not be available.

Viewers wanting to learn more about the teams and the competition can visit official and trusted football resources such as the DFB-Pokal official site, RB Leipzig’s official club site, and for detailed stats and live updates, the Sofascore platform offers comprehensive live scoring and match analysis.

In summary, fans in the UK can watch Sandhausen vs RB Leipzig via the world feed on DFB Play TV, while US viewers can watch on ESPN+. Commentary by Kevin Hatchard ensures a professional and knowledgeable audio accompaniment, making this first-round DFB-Pokal clash an exciting start to the German football season.