Hoffenheim and Cologne were the latest Bundesliga clubs to advance to the second round of the German Cup, but promoted Darmstadt were eliminated on Monday.
Andrej Kramaric's brace led Hoffenheim to a 4-1 win against third-league VfL Lübeck. Tarik Gözüsirin broke the deadlock for Lübeck in the 35th minute, but Hoffenheim overcame the scare when Kramaric equalized in the 42nd and added a second to his name in the 60th, dpa repoted.
Newcomers Marius Bülter and Julian Justvan secured the spot in the next round. Cologne, meanwhile, defeated second division team VfL Osnabrück 3-1 after extra-time.
In an even an entertaining game, Benno Schmitz broke the deadlock for Cologne shortly before the break with a stunner, but Osnabrück got the equalizer in the 73rd. Charalambos Makridis had his spot-kick saved, but didn't waste the rebound.
But Cologne needed only six minutes in extra-time to put the game to bed thanks to goalscorers Sargis Adamyan and Julian Chabot.
Osnabrück are coached by Tobias Schweinsteiger, the brother of 2014 World Cup winner with Germany Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Promoted Bundesliga side Darmstadt were eliminated from the German Cup after a 3-0 defeat to fourth-tier FC Homburg.
Homburg are now the lowest-tier team left in the Cup, while Darmstadt join Werder Bremen, VfL Bochum and Augsburg in the group of first division teams eliminated in the first round.
Second division side Magdeburg made it to the second round with a 2-1 win over third-tier Jahn Regensburg.
Holders RB Leipzig defeated Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich 3-0 in Saturday's Super Cup so the two sides play their German Cup openers at Wehen Wiesbaden and Preußen Münster late in September.
Source: Bahrain News Agency