DFB-Pokal: Gladbach as yet undefeated against fifth-tier opposition

At 18:00 CEST on Friday, the Foals pay a visit to fifth-division side TuS Bersenbrück in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. In the history of the Pokal, Gladbach have encountered opposition from the fifth tier on six occasions – all ending in decisive victories.

• The first clash against a team from the fifth division came in the second round of the 1977/78 season. The Foals overcame then-Landesliga side BV 04 Düsseldorf 4-1, with goals from Winfried Schäfer (32’), Herbert Heidenreich (47’), Rainer Bonhof (72’), and Jupp Heynckes (85’).
• Almost 20 years passed before there would be another encounter with a team from Germany’s fifth-best league. In the first round of the 1995/96 season, Gladbach triumphed 3-0 against then-fifth division 1. FC Nürnberg Amateure thanks to goals from Stefan Effenberg (32’), Karlheinz Pflipsen (62’) und Michael Sternkopf (86’).
• Gladbach came across FC Kutzhof from Saarland, who were playing in the Verbandsliga at the time, in the first round of the 2005/06 season. Marek Heinz (46’), Hassan El Fakiri (49’), and Bekim Kastrati (79’) fired us to a 3-0 victory.
• The very next season, we faced a team from the Verbandsliga once again. Vaclov Sverkos’ brace (Photo: Wiechmann, 14’/42’) and goals from Zè Antonio (26’) and Michael Delura (74’) ensured that we cruised to a 4-1 victory against SV Roßbach/Wied.
• The Foals celebrated their highest margin of victory in the DFB-Pokal to date against fifth-tier opposition. In the first round of the 2018/19 season, they won 11-1 against former Oberliga side BSC Hastedt. Thorgan Hazard (2’, 42’, 84’), Alassane Plea (8’, 50’, 78’), and Raffael (15’, 31’, 66’) all bagged hat-tricks, with Florian Neuhaus (39’) and Jonas Hofmann (56’) also chipping in with goals.
• Last season, the Foals swept past Oberliga team SV Oberachern 9-1. Marcus Thuram (3’, 22’, 36’), Jonas Hofmann (37’, 45+3’), Remy Bensebaini (45’), Lars Stindl (53’), Joe Scally (59’), and Florian Neuhaus (78’) all scored for Gladbach.