Record against Balingen*:
8 games. 2 wins, 3 draws, 3 defeats. 12:12 goal difference.
*Only VfB’s U21s have previously played against Balingen, with all the matches coming in the Regionalliga (fourth division).
Ban carried over
Borna Sosa is suspended for this year’s first-round tie following his sending off in the DFB Cup semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt last season.
Team news
Nikolas Nartey, Josha Vagnoman, Thomas Kastanaras, Fabian Bredlow, Laurin Ulrich as well as new signings Maximilian Mittelstädt and Deniz Undav are all out injured.
Wooyeong Jeong, Jamie Leweling and Alexander Nübel are set to make their competitive debuts for VfB.
Fans
The match at the Stadion an der Kreuzeiche in Reutlingen is sold out. The stadium holds up to 13,400 spectators, with 5,000 VfB fans making the trip to support Sebastian Hoeneß’s men.