Friday's DfB-Pokal round-up: Bielefeld stun Bremen, wins for Leverkusen and Union Berlin | OneFootball

DSC Arminia Bielefeld 1 – Werder Bremen 0

The surprise of the DfB-Pokal first rounds so far came at the Alm as last season’s finalists Arminia Bielefeld knocked out Werder Bremen for a second time in succession. Under new head coach Horst Steffen’s first game in charge, Bremen started strong with Marco Gruell firing just wide. Felix Agu also had a fine opportunity when left unmarked at the back post. Stefano Russo fired over from a freekick for Bielefeld as the first-half came to an end.

However, the turning point started to materialise after the break as Leonardo Bittencourt picked up a yellow card for a foul on Sam Schreck. Minutes later, the veteran received his marching orders when he wiped out Marvin Mehlem. The newly promoted 2.Bundesliga team started to take control as Kania tested Zetterer. Eventually, the breakthrough as substitutes Benjamin Boakye threaded a pass to Isaiah Young to slot home inside the left upright.

SG Grossaspach 0 – Bayer Leverkusen 4

Leverkusen encountered no difficulties against Regionalliga opponents Grossaspach in their maiden competitive fixture under Erik ten Hag. Although the Bundesliga giants required a late flurry of goals to get the job done. Shortly after a severe hailstorm which momentarily flooded the pitch, play resumed with Patrik Schick heading home from an Amine Adli cross on 32 minutes.

Volkan Celiktas’ red card effectively killed the game as a contest after the hour mark with Grimaldo linking up with Ernest Poku to set up a tap-in for Arthur. The dam was breached further after Grosspach’s second dismissal for Mert Tasdelen – Christian Kofane capitalised on a wonderful ball from Aleix Garcia before Grimaldo converted an 87th-minute penalty.

Guetersloh 0 – FC Union Berlin 5

With fourth-tier Gutersloh playing in front of the biggest crowd seen at their home ground in 27 years, the occasion was a tad overwhelming. In ruthless fashion, 1.FC Union Berlin dispatched their opponents in style with a wonderful Robert Skov freekick to open the scoring. A pair of corners allowed Leo Querfeld and Rani Khedira to convert in a crowded box before the break.

Although Gutersloh took the game to their Bundesliga superiors early in the second-half, the club from the Kopenick extended their lead when Janick Haberer found Andrej Ilic in space at the near post. The five-star performance was capped off late into injury time as Ilic turned provider for Woo-yeong Jeong who joined in on the fun.

Saarbruecken 1 – FC Magdeburg 3

A colourful Ludwigsparkstadion has often been a happy hunting ground for 3.Liga side Saarbruecken in recent editions of the cup, but this was not one of those days. Magdeburg eventually broke the deadlock just before the break as Martjin Kaars turned home from Gnaka’s cross.

In injury time in the opening half, Falko Michel found room to set up Rayan Ghrieb to double the 2.Bundesliga team’s advantage. The French-Algerian midfielder made it a brace shortly before the hour mark, and although Saarbruecken bagged a consolation goal through Tim Civeja, the outcome was already decided.