Next surprise in the DFB Cup
Energie Cottbus switches off Hannover 96
Updated on August 16, 2025 – 8:06 p.m.Reading time: 3 min.
Hannover 96 started in the second division season. But in the DFB Cup she now suffered a bitter setback-the end in the first round.
Second division Hannover 96 was surprisingly excreted in the first round of the DFB Cup. The Lower Saxony lost to the third division team Energie Cottbus on Saturday. Tolcay Ciğerci had already put the hosts in the lead in the twelfth minute. The guests of coach Christian Titz subsequently took control of the game, but failed at the Cottbus defense bulwark. Not even a penalty could bring the equalization: In the 42nd minute, Boris Tomiak failed to Cottbus keeper Alexander Sebald, who had only found out shortly before the game. Stammtorwart Elias Bethke had injured himself before kick -off.
After the end of Werder Bremen against Arminia Bielefeld and 1st FC Nürnberg against FV Illertissen, the failure of Hanover is already the third surprise in the first cup round. For Hanover it is also the third time in a row that they fail in the first cup round.
SC Freiburg, on the other hand, confidently moved into the second round of the DFB Cup after a game of patience. At the compactly defending regional league team sports fans Lotte, the Bundesliga club initially struggled in his offensive efforts, but in the end earned 2-0 (1-0). Erin Dinkci (43rd minute) and Lucas Höler (69.) met for the team of coach Julian Schuster.
In front of around 6,000 spectators in the stadium on the Lotter Kreuz, including more than 2,000 fans who traveled from Breisgau, the game initially developed into a tough matter for the favorite. Lotte stood very deep and made the rooms tight. Vincenzo Grifo had the first chance, whose free kick from a half -left position was just on the outside network (13th). Maximilian Eggestein pulled over the goal after a throw -in volley (15th).
Despite almost 90 percent possession of the ball, the Europa League participant hardly found any gaps. Lotte defended almost with the entire team, but it remained completely harmless. At the sports club, Dinkci only caused danger again when he headed a cross from Johan Manzambi to the crossbar (35th). Eight minutes later, Dinkci then hit the lead by volley after Denis Milic could not consistently clarify the ball.
After the break, the picture continued: Freiburg dominated the possession of the ball, Lotte defended compactly. After a corner, Camer Krasniqi gave the home side the first and only end of the game (52nd). Meanwhile, the guests acted a little inaccurate before Höler finally sank a free kick flank by Christian Günter from a short distance. Because Lotte remained too harmless despite a little more possession of the ball, Freiburg brought the victory to the finish.