DFB-Pokal round one: Previewing Saturday’s standout clashes  | OneFootball

BFC Dynamo vs. VfL Bochum

East Berlin outfit BFC Dynamo currently ply their trade in the fourth-tier Regionalliga Nordost, where they’ve been since 2014/15. Holders of a record ten East German championships, they’ve spent much of the past two decades bouncing between the fourth and fifth divisions, still dreaming of a return to their glory days. The DFB-Pokal, as ever, provides a great opportunity to mix it with the big boys once again.

Dennis Kutrieb’s side have had a mixed start to the season, suffering defeats to Hallescher FC and Rot-Weiß Erfurt before picking up their first points with a 2-1 away win over newly promoted BFC Preussen. Despite never having beaten higher-ranked opposition in this competition, BFC will head into the tie with nothing to lose, backed by a sold-out and vociferous Sportforum Hohenschönhausen.

Following relegation from the Bundesliga in 2024/25, VfL Bochum have entrusted Dieter Hecking with an immediate return to the top flight, despite him overseeing the drop. They began life back in the 2. Bundesliga with a bruising 4-1 defeat at SV Darmstadt but steadied the ship with a 2-0 home victory over SV Elversberg.

Hecking is keen to avoid complacency despite his side being made heavy favourites: “There are enough examples from recent years where the supposed favorites have failed. VfL Bochum has had its own history in the last two years… You can't offer the supposed underdogs anything. For them, it's the game of the year, and they want a sensation. If you only give 70 or 80 percent in tackles and positional play, are undisciplined and lack accurate passing, and aren't greedy to win the game, then it can be difficult.”

Remarkably, BFC Dynamo have never won a DFB-Pokal match in their history, losing all eight previous ties, including 6-0 and 9-1 thrashings by VfB Stuttgart and FC Köln. Bochum’s cup record is stronger - reaching the quarter-finals in 2021/22 - but they have been dumped out by lesser opposition in the first round in each of the past two seasons. BFC will hope that run continues here.

Team newsValdemar Sadrifar and Américo Neves are missing for the home side, though as of yet there are no other injury concerns for Kutrieb and BFC.

Bochum’s absentee list includes Moritz-Broni Kwarteng, Erhan Masovic and Francis Onyeka. Leandro Morgalla is out with illness, while Ibrahim Sissoko is also unwell, with a late decision expected on his availability.

Predicted line-ups

BFC Dynamo (3-5-2): Hainke (GK) - Polte, Oellers, Gunte - Reincke, Shcherbakovski, Mattmüller, Knezevic, Karatas - Dadashov, Putaro

VfL Bochum (4-3-3): Horn (GK) - Koscierski, Vogt, Strompf, Wittek - Bero, Ibrahima Sissoko, Pannewig - Miyoshi, Ibrahim Sissoko, Holtmann

FC Eintracht Norderstedt vs. FC St. Pauli

Eintracht Norderstedt of the Regionalliga Nord are travelling to nearby St. Pauli as they embark on their fifth DFB-Pokal journey. Originally drawn at home, the game was moved from the Edmund-Plambeck-Stadion to the almost 30,000 capacity Millerntor in what promises to be a brilliant spectacle involving the two sides separated by a mere 35 minute drive.

Norderstedt booked their place in the competition by winning the Hamburger Pokal in 2024/25, edging USC Paloma 5-4 on penalties after a goalless final. Elard Ostermann’s side have made a fairly slow league start, losing two of their opening three games before securing their first points with a 2-0 away win at Phönix Lübeck. They have been fourth-tier regulars since 2013/14, with sixth place their best finish to date.

St. Pauli head into 2025/26 with renewed optimism after a frustrating previous campaign, where they posted the league’s worst attacking record (28 goals) but the second-best defence (41 conceded). With the backline already strong under Alexander Blessin, the focus now is on adding attacking threat to improve on last season’s 14th-place finish.

Blessin and his side have enjoyed a successful pre-season, enjoying impressive wins over the likes of OGC Nice, Karlsruher SC, Silkeborg and Hellas Verona to name a few. Couple this with the arrival of nine new signings to bolster the squad - including names such as Andreas Hountondji, Joel Fujita, Louis Oppie and Mathias Pereira Lage - you can see why staff, players and fans are bullish about their chances going into the new season.

Head coach Blessin is well aware of the threat the fourth-tier opposition pose to his side: “We have to be alert. We saw what quality there is in the [fourth-tier] Regionalliga in the warm-up game against Drochtersen/Assel. In the first round at Halle last season we really struggled. We'll go into the game with the necessary care because we know what we have to do. Putting in a focused performance and imposing our game on them will be key. We won't underestimate our opponents.”

This will be the first competitive meeting between the clubs, with close to 30,000 fans expected. Norderstedt are chasing a first DFB-Pokal win in their 22-year history, while St. Pauli will look to avoid a potential early banana skin to improve a modest cup record - just two appearances beyond the second round in the last decade.

Team news

For the home side, Tammo Mölck (torn cruciate ligament), Artem Diachun (pubic bone inflammation), Lenny Kufrin (torn muscle bundle), Ohene Köhl (knee), and goalkeeper Niklas Petzsch (cartilage damage) are still out. There have been question marks over the participation of Andre Wallenborn and Moritz Achtenberg.

Apart from the long-term absentees of Jackson Irvine, Karol Mets and Ricky-Jade Jones, everyone else is seemingly fit and available for St. Pauli.

Predicted line-ups

Eintracht Norderstedt (3-5-2): Huxsohl (GK) - Yago, Grau, Frahm - Gutmann, Zimmer, Obushnyi, Behounek, Bera - Drinkuth, Krüger

St. Pauli (3-4-3): Vasilj (GK) - Nemeth, Smith, Wahl - Saliakas, Fujita, Sands, Oppie - Afolayan, Hountondji, Pereira Lage

FC Energie Cottbus vs. Hannover 96

Energie Cottbus will be no stranger to many a German football fan, having played in the Bundesliga as recently as 2008/09. Currently residing in the 3. Liga - one division below their opponents - they will be eyeing up a potential upset this weekend backed by around 22,000 fans packing out the LEAG Energie Stadion aiming to create a hostile environment for their visitors.

Led by Claus-Dieter Wollitz, Energie have made a steady start to the season picking up four points from two games. A 3-3 draw at home to FC Saarbrücken kicked off proceedings before securing their first win 2-0 away at newly promoted FC Schweinfurt, leaving them occupying second place heading into the Pokal matchup.

Having been stuck in the 2. Bundesliga since the 2019/20 season, it’s no secret that Hannover are approaching the new season quietly optimistic about their promotion chances this time around under new head coach Christian Titz. Die Roten have started in impressive form, picking up 1-0 and 2-0 wins against FC Kaiserslautern and Fortuna Düsseldorf, respectively.

Titz was clear in setting the goal for Saturday evening, whilst acknowledging the raucous atmosphere they’re likely to face: “It's a task that won't be easy for us to accomplish. We're going there to win and advance. You have to give 100 percent to advance. We'll also feel that in the atmosphere in the stadium. We'll be coming to a stadium where the team is being spurred on. That's why it's a good matchday for us, because we can stabilize ourselves in this way.”

Since making the semi-final in 2010/11, Energie have only made it past the first round once in their next eleven attempts. Likewise, Hannover have a pretty sketchy record in the competition too. Barring a quarter final appearance in 21/22, the second round is their best effort in the past eight seasons. With Hannover among the promotion favourites in the 2. Bundesliga, Energie will be hoping they are distracted by league ambitions.

Team news

Timmy Thiele and Lukas Michelbrink are both still missing for the home side, though it appears there are no fresh injury concerns from the weekend’s fixture.

Hannover’s Waniss Taïbi and Mustapha Bundu trained individually this week but responded well, while Benedikt Pichler completed full sessions. Late fitness calls are expected on all three.

Predicted line-ups

FC Energie Cottbus (4-3-3): Bethke (GK) - Rorig, Campulka, Awortwie-Grant, Guwara - Hofmann, Pelivan, Borgmann - Cigerci, Engelhardt, Butler

Hannover 96 (3-4-3): Noll (GK) - Blank, Tomiak, Ghițǎ - Matsuda, Leopold, Aseko, Neubauer - Yokota, Källman, Rochelt

Saturday’s remaining ties

13:00 CEST:

FK Pirmasens vs Hamburger SV

Predicted lineups:

FK Pirmasens (3-5-2): Reitz (GK) - Müller, Grieß, Andreas - Dimitrijevic, Selensky, Wiltz, Eichhorn, Büchler - Ehrhart, Krob

Hamburger SV (3-4-3): Heuer Fernandes (GK) - Omari, Elfadli, Soumahoro - Gocholeishvili, Capaldo, Meffert, Muheim - Sahiti, Glatzel, Røssing-Lelesiit

15:30 CEST:

Bahlinger SC vs FC Heidenheim

Predicted line-ups:

Bahlinger SC (4-2-3-1): Petzold (GK) - Herrmann, Tost, El Abed, Wuttke - Bux, Scholl - Wehrle, Pepic, Diakité - Rienhardt

FC Heidenheim (3-4-2-1): Ramaj (GK) - Gimber, Mainka, Siersleben - Conteh, Schöppner, Dorsch, Ibrahimovic - Scienza, Honsak - Zivzivadze

SV Hemelingen vs VfL Wolfsburg

Predicted line-ups:

SV Hemelingen (4-3-3): Pfaar (GK) - Hannawald, Berisha, Bauhus, Erten - Sido, Işık, Corogli - Ekweh, Amadou, Genaev

VfL Wolfsburg (4-2-3-1): Grabara (GK) - Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Zehnter - Arnold, Souza - Wimmer, Majer, Amoura - Pejcinovic

FV Illertissen vs 1. FC Nürnberg

Predicted line-ups:

FV Illertissen (4-4-1-1): Witte (GK) - Heckmann, Zeller, Neuberger, Gölz - Embaye, Hingerl, Cocic, Hausmann - Milic - Glessing

FC Nürnberg (3-3-3-2): Mathenia (GK) - Karafiat, Knoche, Gruber - Koudossou, Lubach, Danilo Soares - Justvan, Yilmaz - Telalovic, Biron

Hansa Rostock vs TSG Hoffenheim

Predicted line-ups:

Hansa Rostock (3-4-2-1): Uphoff (GK) - Pfanne, Gürleyen, Carstens - Dietze, Fatkic, Schuster, Bergh - Lebeau, Krauß - Hummel

TSG Hoffenheim (3-4-1-2): Baumann (GK) - Chaves, Machida, Bernardo - Coufal, Burger, Avdullahu, Touré - Damar - Asllani, Kramarić

SV Sandhausen vs RB Leipzig

Predicted line-ups:

SV Sandhausen (3-4-2-1): Lyska (GK) - Schulz, Osée, Akmenstanli - Kolbe, Tarnat, Ampadu, Halbauer - Herrmann, de Meester - Testroet

RB Leipzig (4-3-3): Vandevoordt (GK) - Nedeljkovic, Orban, Lukeba, Raum - Schlager, Simons, Vermeeren - Nusa, Openda, Bakayoko

18:00 CEST:

Sportfreunde Lotte vs SC Freiburg

Predicted line-ups:

Sportfreunde Lotte (3-4-2-1): Meyer (GK) - Rüth, Uzelac, Milic - Horn, Klefisch, Krasniqi, Kehl - Berisha, Stublla - Demaj

SC Freiburg (4-2-3-1): Atubolu (GK) - Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Makengo - Manzambi, Eggestein - Suzuki, Dinkçi, Grifo - Matanovic

VfB Lübeck vs SV Darmstadt

Predicted line-ups:

VfB Lübeck (4-3-3): Böhmker (GK) - Ulrich, Menke, Melenivskyi, Thiel - Pfundheller, Polat, Istefo - Karimani, Verinac, Albrecht

SV Darmstadt (4-2-3-1): Schuhen (GK) - Riedel, Pfeiffer, Vukotic, Nürnberger - Klefisch, Papela - Corredor, Hornby, Richter - Lidberg