Overview
- Serhou Guirassy broke the deadlock in the 79th minute to secure a 1-0 win over third-division Rot-Weiss Essen and advance Dortmund to the second round.
- Essen substitute Kelsey Owusu’s late challenge caught wing back Yan Couto’s knee and required the Brazilian’s stretcher removal in stoppage time.
- Jobe Bellingham made his first competitive appearance on German soil for Dortmund, entering in the 64th minute and causing problems for the Essen defense.
- Elsewhere in the first round, Mainz defeated Dynamo Dresden 1-0 via a Nadiem Adli free kick, Hertha Berlin edged Preußen Münster 5-3 on penalties after a goalless draw, and Fortuna Düsseldorf won 4-2 at Schweinfurt.
- Werder Bremen were the only Bundesliga team eliminated, and fixtures for Stuttgart and Bayern Munich were postponed due to their German Supercup commitments.