Erzgebirge Aue vs. Borussia M'bach (Saturday, 12.00pm)
Third-division team Erzgebirge Aue are set to host top-flight Borussia Monchengladbach at Erzgebirgsstadion in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Saturday.
The home side are currently second in the 3. Liga after winning their opening two games, while the visitors are yet to begin their 2024-25 campaign but finished 14th with 34 points last term.
We say: Erzgebirge Aue 1-4 Borussia Monchengladbach
Although Borussia Monchengladbach were eliminated from the DFB-Pokal last term by a 3. Liga side, it is difficult to see it happening for a second consecutive season.
Given the gap in quality between the teams, it would not be surprising if the visitors comfortably won on Saturday.
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Greifswalder FC vs. Union Berlin (Saturday, 2.30pm)
Union Berlin's first competitive match of the 2024-25 season will see them travel to Volksstadion Greifswald to face Greifswalder FC in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Saturday evening.
The hosts are returning to this competition for the first time since 2021 when they were beaten in the first round by Augsburg, while the visitors were knocked out in the second round last season by Stuttgart.
We say: Greifswalder FC 1-3 Union Berlin
While these types of mismatched cup ties do toss up a few shock results every so often, we do not expect to see one here, and fancy the visitors to secure a fairly comfortable victory and entry to the next round.
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Villingen vs. Heidenheim (Saturday, 2.30pm)
The 2024-25 DFB-Pokal gets underway this week and Heidenheim will be travelling to the MS Technologie Arena to take on Villingen on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts are back in this competition for the first time since the 2021-22 season, while the visitors were knocked out in the second round by Borussia Monchengladbach last term.
We say: Villingen 0-3 Heidenheim
Heidenheim are entering this competition after arguably the best season in their history and a very impressive pre-season. We expect the visitors to wrap this one up fairly comfortably.
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RWE vs. RB Leipzig (Saturday, 2.30pm)
In the first round of the DFB-Pokal, RB Leipzig are set to travel to Stadion an der Hafenstrasse on Saturday, where they will face third-division Rot-Weiss Essen.
The home side are currently ninth in the 3. Liga and have three points after two games, while the visitors will begin their 2024-25 Bundesliga campaign against Bochum on August 24.
We say: Rot-Weiss Essen 1-4 RB Leipzig
Given Leipzig's strong showing in the DFB-Pokal in recent seasons, it would be surprising to see them exit the competition on Saturday.
Additionally, if boss Rose names a strong XI as he did against Paris Saint-Germain, they could comfortably progress into the next round ahead of Rot-Weiss Essen.
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Osnabruck vs. Freiburg (Saturday, 2.30pm)
Third-tier VfL Osnabruck host Freiburg in the first round of the DFB-Pokal at Bremer Brucke on Saturday.
The hosts, who were relegated from the second division last term, are underdogs against the Bundesliga outfit and are not helped by an underwhelming start to their season.
We say: VfL Osnabruck 1-3 Freiburg
While Osnabruck have struggled for goals in competitive matches, Freiburg's leaky pre-season rearguard should gift the third-tier side a goal on Saturday. However, the Bundesliga outfit are not expected to suffer a first-round exit, and we are backing them to notch a victory in Lower Saxony.
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Alemannia Aachen vs. Holstein Kiel (Saturday, 5.00pm)
Third-tier Alemannia Aachen will host Bundesliga newcomers Holstein Kiel in a DFB-Pokal clash at the New Tivoli on Saturday.
Holstein Kiel, fresh from their historic promotion to the top flight, will be eager to build momentum ahead of the league campaign with a positive result.
We say: Alemannia Aachen 1-0 Holstein Kiel
Holstein go into this fixture on a poor run of form, which we think could impact their performance against an Alemannia Aachen side who are already competing in league matches and have made a positive start to their campaign.
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Phonix Lubeck vs. Dortmund (Saturday, 5.00pm)
Fourth-tier side Phonix Lubeck will be looking to upset the odds when they host giants Borussia Dortmund at Volksparkstadion in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Saturday.
The home side are currently 10th in the Regionalliga North division and have three points after two games, while the visitors' 2024-25 Bundesliga season will begin against Eintracht Frankfurt on August 24.
We say: Phonix Lubeck 1-5 Borussia Dortmund
Although Dortmund are likely to name several less experienced players in their starting XI, their quality should still see them emerge as comfortable victors.
It would not be surprising if Sahin's side took an early lead, but Phonix Lubeck will no doubt have moments of threatening play, particularly during set pieces.
