Tuesday and Wednesday’s cup action provided another reminder of just how quickly favourites can find themselves in trouble. Second-division sides proved particularly troublesome for their top-flight opponents. While Schalke 04 and Hoffenheim suffered early exits, Leverkusen showed impressive resilience to recover from a disastrous start.
Dresden punish toothless Schalke
Dynamo Dresden produced arguably the biggest shock of the round with a 2-0 home victory over Schalke 04. Sitting just 15th in the 2. Bundesliga, the Saxony-based club delivered a disciplined performance against their newly promoted Bundesliga opponents to reach the last 16 for the first time in twelve years.
Dresden were more than a match for Schalke in an opening period that offered few clear-cut chances. The visitors remained relatively compact but struggled to pose any attacking threat after winning possession. Patrice Čović broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, converting a cross from Simon Straudi. Christoph Daferner sealed the victory in the 88th minute after an error by Schalke goalkeeper Loris Karius.
For Dresden coach Thomas Stamm, defensive organisation was the key to success. “We were very solid throughout the 90 minutes and gave very little away,” he explained. Schalke manager Miron Muslic acknowledged his side’s shortcomings: “Dynamo Dresden deserved to win the game.”
The defeat compounds Schalke’s attacking problems. With just four goals in seven Bundesliga matches, they have the weakest attack in the division. Their lack of pace, precision and creativity in the final third was evident again in Dresden. For the five-time cup winners, it marked a sixth consecutive second-round elimination.
Kiel knock Hoffenheim out on penalties
Holstein Kiel also claimed a notable Bundesliga scalp. Tim Walter’s side held Hoffenheim to a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes before prevailing 4-3 in the penalty shootout.
Hoffenheim initially made the stronger start, with Adam Hložek putting the visitors ahead in the eleventh minute. Kiel responded quickly, however, as Adrián Kaprálik equalised in the 23rd minute following an assist from Hiroki Sekine. Neither side could find another goal in normal time or extra time.
The victory carries particular significance for Kiel, whose start to the 2. Bundesliga season had been disappointing. They only recorded their first league win last weekend, beating Dynamo Dresden 3-0. Now they have followed that result with another success against considerably stronger opposition on paper.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, arrived on the back of three consecutive competitive victories, including an impressive 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. Head coach Christian Ilzer had warned before the match that “league status is secondary in cup football.” The Austrian’s words proved prophetic. Hoffenheim failed to make their individual quality count and eventually suffered elimination in the shootout.
Leverkusen survive an early scare
For half an hour, a major upset also appeared to be on the cards in Leverkusen. Visiting 1. FC Nürnberg had raced into a 2-0 lead against the Bundesliga side, with Rafael Lubach opening the scoring in the 13th minute before Sigurd Haugen doubled the advantage following a swift counterattack.
What made Nürnberg’s performance particularly impressive was their fearless approach. Miroslav Klose’s team pressed high, disrupted Leverkusen’s build-up play and exploited the lack of cohesion in the favourites’ reshuffled attack. At times, the home side looked overwhelmed.
The comeback was sparked by an unlikely source: centre-back Edmond Tapsoba. The captain pulled one back from a corner in the 41st minute before levelling shortly after the restart, again following a set piece. Leverkusen gradually took control from that point onwards.
Patrik Schick converted a penalty in the 70th minute to put the hosts ahead for the first time, before Jonas Hofmann and Lucas Vázquez completed the turnaround in a 5-2 victory. Manager Carles Martínez had made several changes that initially disrupted his team’s rhythm. Only after introducing additional attacking quality and raising the intensity did Leverkusen generate the kind of pressure Nürnberg could no longer withstand. Ultimately, it was also a victory built on superior squad depth.
Bayern cruise through as Hertha eventually find their breakthrough
Bayern Munich, by contrast, encountered few lasting difficulties. The defending champions cruised to a 6-1 victory over 1. FC Magdeburg. Although the visitors briefly equalised at 1-1, a Michael Olise brace and goals from Ismael Saibari, Alphonso Davies, Nathaniel Brown and David Santos ensured a comfortable win.
Hertha BSC also progressed to the last 16 as expected, although the Berlin side needed patience against fourth-tier SSV Jeddeloh II. Second-half goals from Josip Brekalo and Julian Eitschberger eventually secured a 2-0 victory.
Tuesday had already produced another upset, with VfL Bochum beating Mainz 05 2-0. Darmstadt 98 also eliminated Bundesliga opposition, winning 2-0 away to SV Elversberg.
The second round has therefore significantly reshaped the competition. When the last 16 takes place on December 1 and 2, several second-division clubs will be hoping to produce yet another giant-killing performance.
