TSG 1899 Hoffenheim easily cleared the first hurdle in the cup against FC Erzgebirge Aue, which was relegated from the third division. The Europa League participant secured a commanding 4-0 (3-0) victory over the fifth-place team in the Northeast Regional League. In front of 8,199 spectators at the Erzgebirgsstadion, Patrick Wimmer (6th minute) put the visitors ahead, before Wouter Burger (17th) and Wimmer again (45+1) extended the lead. After the break, Max Moerstedt (63rd) scored to seal the final score.
Hoffenheim, who started Luca Philipp in goal instead of captain and national team goalkeeper Oliver Baumann and also faced the cup match without striker Fisnik Asllani (recovery training), came under pressure right from the first minute. Aue’s Willi Kamm tackled new signing Mats Rots, and the Erzgebirge side vehemently demanded a penalty—to no avail. The first-division side’s response wasn’t long in coming. Wimmer (5th minute) took a shot from 11 meters out, forcing Aue’s veteran Martin Männel—who was starting in place of homegrown player Max Uhlig—to make his first save. A minute later, the Austrian hammered the ball into the net from close range on the right for an early lead.
