DFB-Pokal roundup: Sabitzer scores for rampant Dortmund, Bremen stunned
New signing Marcel Sabitzer scored on his competitive debut for Borussia Dortmund in a 6-1 victory over Schott Mainz in the first round of the German Cup on Saturday.
Five-time winners Dortmund went into the game without several key players.
Karim Adeyemi, Giovanni Reyna, Nico Schlotterbeck and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel were among the injured absentees, but Dortmund were never likely to encounter a problem against the team from the German fifth tier.
Sabitzer, a 19-million-euro ($20.8 million) acquisition from Bayern Munich this summer, premiered for the Black and Yellows, and made an impression in this gentle early-season test for Edin Terzic’s side.
But it was striker Sebastien Haller who broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, meeting Julian Brandt’s cross from the left with a bullet header that flew past home goalkeeper Tim Hansen.
The lively Brandt got himself on the scoresheet two minutes later, converting Donyell Malen’s cross from close range to put the 2021 winners in cruise co