News (engl.)

The 2025/26 DFB-Pokal campaign kicked off on Friday evening with wins for several of the favourites – and one result that raised eyebrows. Defending champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen eventually saw off Regionalliga side SG Sonnenhof Großaspach 4-0, after a lengthy storm delay interrupted the first half. 1. FC Union Berlin eased past FC Gütersloh 5-0, and 1. FC Magdeburg won 3-1 at 3. Liga outfit 1. FC Saarbrücken. Meanwhile, last season’s finalists Arminia Bielefeld edged out Bundesliga side SV Werder Bremen 1-0, repeating their cup success from a year ago.

Last-gasp strike sends Bielefeld through

Werder Bremen had the better of the early chances in Bielefeld, with Marco Grüll firing narrowly wide of the far post from a tight angle (14’) and Felix Agu unable to keep his shot down after a cross from deep (33’). The hosts struggled to create much going forward but almost took advantage of a lapse just before the break – Stefano Russo’s free-kick from 20 yards after Senne Lynen’s foul cleared the bar (39’).

The match swung after the restart when Leonardo Bittencourt was sent off for a second yellow card (54’), and Arminia immediately went close through Julian Kania, whose backheel effort was brilliantly saved by Michael Zetterer (57’). With the extra man, Bielefeld took control, and Werder’s resistance was finally broken in stoppage time when substitute Isaiah Young found space in the box and fired low past Zetterer to seal a 1-0 win. It was a repeat of last season’s quarter-final result, when Bielefeld – then in the third tier – also knocked Bremen out.

Weather delay and late goals as Leverkusen progress

Bayer Leverkusen’s first-round trip to Aspach was disrupted by a heavy thunderstorm that forced the match to be paused after just 17 minutes. Referee Michael Bacher was only able to restart play after a delay of around 45 minutes. Once the rain had cleared, it was the newly promoted Regionalliga side who created the first big chance – Fabian Eisele firing into the side netting in the 28th minute. Leverkusen responded by taking the lead, with Patrik Schick heading home for the Bundesliga runners-up in the 32nd minute. At the other end, Schick then came to the rescue, nodding a looping effort from Volkan Celiktas off the line to spare beaten keeper Mark Flekken (39’).

After the break, Nathan Tella (46’) and Alejandro Grimaldo (49’) both went close, though SG Sonnenhof continued to play with courage and carved out another opportunity through Michael Kleinschrodt (54’). The underdogs’ task became even harder following a second yellow card for captain Celiktas (67’) and a straight red for Mert Tasdelen (82’), leaving them with nine men. Leverkusen made their numerical advantage count – Arthur (74’), Christian Kofane (84’) and Grimaldo from the penalty spot (87’) added further goals to seal a comprehensive win.

Magdeburg see off cup specialists

Saarbrücken had the better of the first half in terms of possession and chances. Elijah Krahn (22’) and Tim Civeja (37’) both tested Magdeburg from range, while Florian Pick found the side netting (33’). But it was the second-division side who took the lead – following a Saarbrücken free-kick, Martijn Kaars broke away on the counter and gave goalkeeper Phillip Menzel no chance (43’). FCM struck again before the break, with Rayan Ghrieb doubling the lead in added time (45’+2).

Magdeburg remained clinical after the restart. Ghrieb completed his stylish brace with a left-footed finish into the near corner (59’). Civeja gave the hosts hope with a goal back in the 67th minute, but they weren’t able to replicate the magic of previous cup campaigns. Kaars went close to a fourth for Magdeburg when he hit the bar (80’), and Maurice Multhaup almost pulled one back for Saarbrücken late on (86’).

Set-piece strength sees Union through

Union Berlin took control early at the Ohlendorfstadion in Gütersloh. Robert Skov opened the scoring with a superb free-kick from 20 yards (19’). Another set-piece brought the second goal before half-time – Leopold Querfeld converted from close range after a corner (35’). A third followed just before the break when Rani Khedira deflected a shot from Danilho Doekhi past Tim Matuschewsky to make it 3-0 (43’).

The hosts came out with confidence after the break and carved out a good opportunity through Luis Frieling from a tight angle (55’), but Union managed the game well from there. Andrej Ilic added a fourth (77’) before Jeong Woo-Yeong rounded off the scoring in stoppage time (90’+4).