Late-time victories secure cup elimination for Cologne's opponents
In the opening round of the 2025-26 DFB-Pokal, several teams showcased their prowess, while underdogs pulled off surprising victories. Here's a roundup of some of the most notable matches.
Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Paxten Aaronson scored for Eintracht Frankfurt as they defeated FV Engers 07 5-0. Frankfurt's Ritsu Doan also shone, netting two goals in the match.
Augsburg, under the guidance of former assistant coach Sandro Wagner, had a successful debut, winning 2-0 against Hallescher FC. Samuel Essende and Steve Mounié scored for Augsburg in the victory.
In a closely contested match, Borussia Mönchengladbach needed to come from behind twice to secure a 3-2 victory over Atlas Delmenhorst. Nico Elvedi, Elye Wahi, and an unnamed player scored for Gladbach in the hard-fought win.
Schalke 04 also emerged victorious, defeating 1. FC Lok Leipzig 1-0 in extra time.
Some of the most dramatic matches of the round included the clash between Stuttgart and Eintracht Braunschweig, which featured a total of 8 goals, two late equalizers by Stuttgart, and several lead changes. The game ended in a 4-4 draw after regular time, with Stuttgart eventually winning 8-7 in a thrilling penalty shootout.
Other upsets included Lübeck's 1-0 victory over Hannover and Illertissen's 6-5 penalty shootout win against Nuremberg after a 3-3 draw in regular time.
Top-tier teams also displayed their dominance, with Wolfsburg beating Hemelingen 9-0, Heidenheim winning 5-0 over Bahlinger SC, and Eintracht Frankfurt defeating Engers 5-0. Bayern Leverkusen also won a clear 4-0 away game at Sonnenhof Großaspach.
The first round also saw several coaching debuts, including Lukas Kwasniok at 1. FC Cologne and the unnamed coaches of SpVgg Greuther Fürth, SC Paderborn, Karlsruhe SC, and SV Elversberg.
Notable results also include Stuttgart narrowly escaping elimination, keeping Werder Bremen as the only Bundesliga side to lose their opening round so far, and Bayern Munich starting their cup campaign successfully.
Overall, the first round of the DFB-Pokal 2025-26 was marked by dramatic matches with extra time and penalties, surprising victories by lower-tier teams, dominant performances by top-flight clubs, and thrilling goal-fests such as the Braunschweig-Stuttgart clash. These elements set the tone for an exciting cup competition this season.
[1] DFB-Pokal first round results, 2025-26 [2] Stuttgart vs. Eintracht Braunschweig match report, 2025-26 DFB-Pokal [3] Bayern Leverkusen vs. Sonnenhof Großaspach match report, 2025-26 DFB-Pokal [4] DFB-Pokal first round highlights and analysis, 2025-26
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