First round of the DFB-Pokal: Bielefeld misses every penalty and is eliminated

In the first round of the DFB-Pokal, Arminia Bielefeld was eliminated after missing all five penalty kicks during a shootout against third-tier side SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. The match ended with a score of 2:2 after extra time, and Bielefeld failed to convert any of their attempts, leading to their exit from the competition. The game took place on August 22, 2026, at the home ground of SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Before the shootout, the teams were tied 2-2 following regular time and two periods of added time. Bielefeld’s inability to score in the decisive moments saw them fall to the lower-ranked team. This result marked another early exit for the club, which had already struggled through the season. Meanwhile, several other matches saw top-tier clubs advance smoothly. Werder Bremen's Niclas Füllkrug made his return to action with a goal, scoring a penalty in the 53rd minute to help his team win 3-0 against Lüneburger SK Hansa. The victory came in Bielefeld, where Füllkrug, who had returned from injury, showed composure under pressure. His strike was followed by goals from Jens Stage and Ludovit Reis, securing a comfortable win for the Bundesliga side. New Leverkusen head coach Carles Martínez also enjoyed a successful debut, guiding his team to a 4-0 victory over SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The win came in Wiesbaden, where Leverkusen dominated proceedings, with Brajan Gruda opening the scoring just 120 seconds into the match. Goals from Willi Orban, Ridle Baku, Conrad Harder, Antonio Nusa, and Ezechiel Banuzi sealed the triumph for the reigning champions. RB Leipzig’s new manager Martin Demichelis also recorded a strong start, leading his team to a 6-0 win over Eintracht Trier. The match took place in Trier, where Leipzig showcased their attacking prowess, with Brajan Gruda scoring the opener before a flurry of goals from Orban, Baku, Harder, Nusa, and Banuzi. The performance underscored the strength of the league’s top teams in the early stages of the tournament. TSG Hoffenheim also advanced without difficulty, defeating Erzgebirge Aue 4-0 in a match held in Aue. The win was secured by goals from Patrick Wimmer, Wouter Burger, and Max Moerstedt, while the visitors maintained control throughout. Meanwhile, FC Augsburg managed to avoid defeat against Energie Cottbus, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Anton Kade and Kristijan Jakic, who scored in stoppage time. The result came despite a lackluster display from the team, as they prepare for their Bundesliga campaign. SV Elversberg, a second-tier club, pulled off a dramatic comeback against MSV Duisburg, winning 3-1 in Duisburg. After a goal from Luca Schnellbacher gave Elversberg the lead at halftime, Duisburg equalized through Tyger Lobinger. However, Elversberg responded with two late goals from Francis Onyeka, ensuring their progression to the next round. In another close encounter, Hertha BSC defeated 1. FC Saarbrücken 4-2 in a penalty shootout, while 1. FC Nürnberg edged out Viktoria Köln 5-4 in a similar format. Both matches concluded with scores of 1-1 after 120 minutes, with the deciding penalties sealing the results. Holstein Kiel continued their strong form, beating TSV 1860 Munich 2-0 in a match held in Munich. The victory came after a disciplined performance from the Bundesliga side, who kept their opponents at bay. Meanwhile, Hannover 96 overwhelmed SV Hemelingen 9-1 in Bremen, showcasing their dominance over a fifth-tier opponent. Throughout the day, fans expressed frustration over the absence of video assistant referee (VAR) technology in the initial rounds of the tournament. Protests erupted in some stadiums, with banners demanding the permanent removal of VAR. Despite the controversy, the matches proceeded without the use of the system, maintaining the traditional format of the DFB-Pokal.