DFB Cup progression: Leverkusen advances after defeating opponents
Bayer Leverkusen Kickstarts Ten Hag Era with Impressive 4-0 Win
In the opening round of the 2025/2026 DFB-Pokal, Bayer Leverkusen made a statement under their new coach, Erik ten Hag, as they cruised to a 4-0 victory over SG Sonnenhof Großaspach.
The match was not without its delays, as a thunderstorm with hail caused a 40-minute pause in the proceedings. However, once the game resumed, Leverkusen took charge.
Patrik Schick opened the scoring for Leverkusen in the 32nd minute, and Alejandro Grimaldo added a penalty in the 87th minute to secure the win. The goals were sandwiched between strikes from Arthur (74') and Christian Kofane (84').
Elsewhere, 1. FC Magdeburg demonstrated their prowess, defeating 1. FC Saarbrücken 3-1. Martijn Kaars scored the first goal for Magdeburg in the 43rd minute, while Rayan Ghrieb netted two, one in the 45+2nd minute and one in the 59th. Tim Civeja managed to pull one back for Saarbrücken in the 67th minute, but it was too little, too late.
Meanwhile, 1. FC Union Berlin showed no mercy in their 5-0 rout of FC Gütersloh's regional league team. Robert Skov scored from a direct free-kick in the 19th minute, and Leopold Querfeld added another from a corner in the 35th. Danilho Doekhi and Grimaldo (again from a corner) also found the back of the net in the 43rd and 87th minutes, respectively.
Unfortunately for some lower-tier teams, their DFB-Pokal dreams were dashed in the opening round. Werder Bremen lost 1-0 to Arminia Bielefeld, while FV Engers 07, a fifth-division side, faced Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt and were eliminated in their first-ever DFB-Pokal match against Bundesliga opposition. The identity of the third outsider team eliminated was not explicitly named in the sources, but it is likely that they fell to bigger clubs such as FC Gütersloh, BFC Dynamo, or similar sides.
The match between Bayer Leverkusen and SG Sonnenhof Großaspach was not without incident, as Mert Tasdelen was sent off with a straight red for Sonnenhof in the same match, while their captain, Volkan Celiktas, was also dismissed in the 66th minute.
With this impressive victory, Bayer Leverkusen have set the tone for the new season under Ten Hag, while other outsider teams will need to regroup and prepare for the next opportunity to make their mark.
[1] DFB-Pokal: FV Engers 07 face Bundesliga opposition for the first time
[2] Bayer Leverkusen crush SG Sonnenhof Großaspach in DFB-Pokal opener
[3] DFB-Pokal: 1. FC Magdeburg triumph over 1. FC Saarbrücken
[4] Werder Bremen's DFB-Pokal campaign ends in disappointment against Arminia Bielefeld
[5] DFB-Pokal: More surprises as lower-tier teams exit in opening round
Football was a prominent feature in the 2025/2026 DFB-Pokal, with Bayer Leverkusen showcasing their dominance in their opening match against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach, securing a 4-0 win under their new coach, Erik ten Hag. The lower-tier team, FV Engers 07, also faced Bundesliga opposition for the first time in the tournament.
