A plunger-cylinder assembly for a press including a plunger which is accommodated at least in part in a cylinder while separating the interior of the cylinder into two partial chambers along the cylinder axis. A relieving device which counteracts an increase in pressure of a fluid accommodated in the first partial chamber is disposed in at least one first partial chamber the increase in pressure being caused by a movement of the plunger along the cylinder axis in the direction of the first partial chamber. A hydraulic press encompassing such a plunger-cylinder assembly is also described.