News (engl.)

Record cup winners FC Bayern München, fellow Bundesliga sides SC Freiburg and 1.FC Union Berlin and second-tier team SV Darmstadt 98 all booked their places in the next round of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday evening. Bayern ran out 4-1 winners in their all-Bundesliga clash away to 1. FC Köln, while Freiburg saw off second-division outfit Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-1 on the road. In the all-2. Bundesliga tie, Darmstadt claimed a commanding 4-0 victory over FC Schalke 04. Union found a winning goal in extra time to get the better of Arminia Bielefeld.

Open encounter sees Bayern beat Köln 4-1

Both teams went on the attack from the off in an open contest. Bayern threatened first through Luis Díaz (5’), before Köln’s Isak Johannesson saw his shot saved by FCB keeper Jonas Urbig (11’). Five minutes later, Ragnar Ache tested Urbig with a header, but the keeper gathered at the second attempt. At the other end, Ron-Robert Zieler was called into action twice in quick succession – first to deny Díaz, then Harry Kane (19’). Köln nearly took the lead in the 25th minute when Kaminski took the ball Dayot Upamecano but fired his shot too centrally from a tight angle. That chance marked the start of a spell of pressure from the hosts, which eventually led to the breakthrough. Ache rose highest at the back post to head in Johannesson’s corner (31’). The lead didn’t last long. Zieler could only parry a shot from Josip Stanišić into the path of Díaz, who tucked the ball into the unguarded net (36’). Just two minutes later, Michael Olise played a ball through to Kane, who turned and slotted past the onrushing Zieler to make it 2-1 (38’).

It didn’t take long after the restart for another good chance to arrive. Kane released Díaz with a ball from deep, but the Colombian fired over the bar when one-on-one with Zieler (53’). Bayern got their third shortly after, however, as Kane nodded in a Joshua Kimmich corner from close range (64’). Köln pushed for a response but were unable to seriously trouble the Bayern defence. Instead, Olise sealed the win with a fourth goal, finishing off a counter-attack involving Aleksandar Pavlović and Díaz (72’). Köln came close to a late consolation when substitute Linton Maina struck the post (86’).

Early goals seal Freiburg win

Freiburg made a lightning-fast start in Düsseldorf and had reason to celebrate almost immediately after kick-off. Johan Manzambi made good ground down the left and squared the ball to Igor Matanović, who tapped in from close range (1’). Just minutes later, it was 2-0 to Freiburg. After a Fortuna throw-in, Matanović won the ball back and laid it off to Vincenzo Grifo, who slotted home unmarked (6’).

The hosts didn’t go down without a fight and pulled one back through Anouar El Azzouzi in the 20th minute. Düsseldorf pushed for an equaliser after the break and were unlucky when Tim Oberdorf hit the post (54’). In stoppage time, Derry Scherhant finished off a counter-attack to seal the win for Freiburg against a stretched defence (90+4’).

Comfortable win for Darmstadt

Darmstadt produced a dominant performance to ease past Schalke and book their place in the next round. The hosts made a bright start and were rewarded in the 23rd minute when Hiroki Akiyama fired them in front after a spell of sustained pressure. Just five minutes later, Matej Maglica rose highest to head in from a corner and double the lead (28’).

Schalke struggled to find a response and fell further behind after the break. Fraser Hornby added a third with a composed finish early in the second half (48’), before Bartosz Białek put the result beyond doubt on the hour mark (60’).

Union need extra time to beat Bielefeld

1. FC Union Berlin went 1-0 up early on against last season’s finalists thanks to Leopold Querfeld’s powerful header from a Christopher Trimmel free-kick (11’). Arminia Bielefeld showed their fighting spirit once again and equalised 17 minutes later via Monju Momuluh’s header (28’).

The second-division side did their best to cause yet another upset in the DFB-Pokal, taking their opponents to extra time. However, Danilho Doekhi found a winning goal for the hosts in the 106th minute.