DFB-Pokal First Round Highlights: Gladbach, Mainz, Freiburg Advance with Convincing Wins

The early rounds of the 2026 DFB-Pokal have produced several noteworthy outcomes, with Borussia Mönchengladbach, FSV Mainz 05, and SC Freiburg securing dominant victories to reach the second round. Gladbach displayed an emphatic 5-0 win over fifth-division TSV Schott Mainz, highlighted by new signing Hugo Bolin’s two goals alongside strikes from Daiki Hashioka, Lukas Ullrich, and Wael Mohya. Coach Eugen Polanski praised Bolin’s performance but was cautious about drawing broader conclusions ahead of the Bundesliga season opener. Amidst the victory, the club faces a fine due to fans igniting smoke bombs during the match. Additionally, Gladbach’s Ko Itakura made his return after a year at Ajax, receiving an enthusiastic reception from supporters.

Mainz 05 dominated lower-division VfB Krieschow, overwhelming them 9-0 thanks to a stellar four-goal performance by Phillip Tietz, complemented by two goals from Nadiem Amiri and further contributions from Sheraldo Becker, Ransford Königsdörffer, and William Bøving. SC Freiburg also impressed with a 5-1 triumph over Fortuna Düsseldorf, powered by Lucas Höler and a brace from Igor Matanovic.

In a hard-fought contest, 1. FC Union Berlin, now under new coach Mauro Lustrinelli, edged out Eintracht Braunschweig 4-2, with goals by Zeno van den Bosch, Tom Rothe, and Marin Ljubicic. Contrasting these successes, relegated 1. FC Heidenheim suffered a surprising 2-5 upset to Regionalliga side SSV Jeddeloh II, highlighting the cup’s unpredictability. Similarly, Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli were knocked out after a 0-2 defeat against third-division Rot-Weiss Essen.

Other notable results included VfL Bochum’s narrow 2-1 victory over SpVgg Greuther Fürth in an intense match marked by Christian Rasmussen and Philipp Hofmann’s goals and a solid performance by keeper Timo Horn. SC Paderborn also secured progression, defeating 1. FC Phönix Lübeck 4-2.

These results reflect the competitive spirit and surprises typical of the DFB-Pokal’s opening stages, setting an exciting tone ahead of the national league contests.