Pavlenko’s Bremen and the King’s Schalke. How did the Czechs do in the first round of the DFB-Pokal?

The first round of the DFB-Pokal, the German domestic cup, is over. Seven footballers from the Czech Republic were in the line-ups of the Bundesliga teams. How did they do?

Probably the hottest iron in the fire from the point of view of a Czech fan, Bayer Leverkusen, led in attack by Patrik Schick with the support of Adam Hložek, fell short against the third-league SV 07 Elversberg. Two goals scored by our goal scorers, one from each of them, did not help.

Leverkusen fielded a team capable of seriously competing for trophies. After being knocked out in the first round, the Czech players’ goals are little consolation. Patrik Schick played the whole game, Adam Hložek, who also made the starting line-up and played from the left side, came on in the 69th minute.

Another third-league club, Eintracht Braunschweig, proved fatal for another Czech player, Vladimir Darida. His Hertha BSC match went to penalties after a dramatic extra time, when both teams scored two goals, in a 4:4 scoreline.

Darida added an assist in extra time and converted the penalty. However, not all of his teammates were so successful and Hertha also finished in the first round.

Alex King had a much better day. Like Hložek, he made his competitive debut for his new club, starting in the starting line-up. When he went off the pitch after about an hour of play, Schalke were leading 0:4. In the end, without the Czech national midfielder on the pitch, they added one more goal.

The opening round of the competition was also good for Pavel Kadeřábek. Although it took 120 minutes, his Hoffenheim eventually overcame their opponents from the lower levels of the German football pyramid 2:0. Kadeřábek played the whole game including extra time. Definitely a good signal after his injury troubles.

Tomáš Koubek’s Augsburg also advances to the next round. However, he only watched the game from the bench.

On the other hand, the other Czech goalkeeper had to do his part. Jiří Pavlenka helped his Bremen team to a 2-1 victory at Energie Cottbus. He conceded a rather cheap goal from an angle, but otherwise he was a mainstay for his team.

The first round will be completed by the postponed matches between RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich at the end of August. Then, on 4 September, the advancing Czech footballers will find out their opponents for the second round, which will be played on 18 and 19 October.

Source: DFB-Pokal