Borussia Dortmund kicked off their DFB-Pokal campaign with a commanding 5:0 victory. On Tuesday, Niko Kovac's side comfortably defeated fifth-tier club HEBC from Hamburg in their first-round match, securing a smooth passage to the next stage of the competition.
The final score was 5:0 (4:0) in favor of the Bundesliga outfit. The match was notable for its record-breaking attendance of spectators at Hamburg's Volkspark, setting a new DFB-Pokal record for fixtures involving a fifth-division team. The game was played at the Professor-Reinmüller-Platz, a venue with a normal capacity of just 2,500. The report originated from Der Standard Sport.
Borussia Dortmund took control from the outset and built a comfortable lead. By halftime, the score was already 4:0 to the visitors from the Ruhr region. The second half saw BVB add another goal to complete the 5:0 scoreline. For fifth-tier HEBC, the task proved too great against top-flight opposition. Marcel Sabitzer, one of the players involved, summed up the team's mood afterwards: "Es hat jedem Spaß gemacht" (Everyone enjoyed it).
The win provides positive momentum for Borussia Dortmund's upcoming Bundesliga commitments. The club currently sits fifth in the league table after one matchday, with three points. Their record stands at one win, no draws, and no losses. They have a goal difference of +2, having scored two and conceded none so far this season. Their recent form is marked with a W for win.
The exceptionally high attendance highlights Borussia Dortmund's significant pulling power, even in away matches. It comfortably surpassed the previous DFB-Pokal attendance record for games involving a fifth-division club. The event at the Volkspark demonstrated that such fixtures have the potential to draw crowds far exceeding the home team's regular stadium capacity. For Hamburg-based HEBC, it was a historic day despite the heavy defeat.
Borussia Dortmund's focus now shifts entirely to the Bundesliga. Their next competitive fixture is an away match against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Friday, September 5, 2026. Hoffenheim currently occupies 12th place in the table. All upcoming fixtures can be viewed on our fixtures page.
Simultaneously, coach Niko Kovac must manage his squad considering several absentees. Currently, Giannis Konstantelias, Justin Lerma, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini are sidelined due to injury. The latest squad status can be followed on our injuries overview. The team will need to rely on other players in the coming matches to maintain their positive start. The immediate task is the away trip to Hoffenheim on Friday.
