Füllkrug’s strike sparks Werder Bremen’s smooth cup start

Niclas Füllkrug’s goal gave Werder Bremen a 3‑0 victory over Lüneburger SK Hansa in their DFB‑Pokal first‑round match on Saturday at Millerntorstadion, while the lower‑league side celebrated a rare cup appearance despite a 0‑3 loss. The win secured Bremen’s progression to the second round, whereas Lüneburg’s fans savoured the atmosphere of a packed stadium.

Match Overview

The Fußball‑Bundesligist opened the Pokalspiel with a corner from Olivier Deman that Jens Stage headed in the eleventh minute for a 1‑0 Treffer. Niclas Füllkrug, a Rückkehrer, added a penalty in the 53rd minute to double the Erfolg, and a third goal from Ludovit Reis sealed the 3‑0 (1‑0) result. Der match was played on Samstag and marked Bremen’s smooth start in the Runde of the DFB‑Pokals.

Supporters and Atmosphere

Stand: 22.08.2026 recorded a sold‑out Stadion with 29 330 Zuschauern, including roughly 20 000 Werder‑Fans and about 10 000 Lüneburger supporters forming two distinct Fan‑Lager. The Zweitligisten FC St. Pauli venue hosted the affair, and the crowd’s energy turned the Angelegenheit into a memorable evening for both clubs.

Looking Ahead

Lüneburger SK Hansa celebrated its fourth DFB‑Pokal appearance, recalling earlier defeats of 0‑3 to Karlsruher SC in 1992, 0‑5 to VfB Stuttgart in 2008 and 1‑3 to Mainz 05 in 2017. Daniel Thioune, the Bremen coach, had praised Füllkrug before the match, saying, "Der Junge hat Bock, der hat Energie, Selbstvertrauen ohne Ende. Das könnte man in Flaschen abfüllen und verkaufen."

Eren Dinkci missed the game because of muskulären Problemen, while the coach also started the newly signed Ludovit Reis alongside Füllkrug. The match featured a brief interruption when referee Fabienne Michel’s tape‑fix on the net delayed play, and the End of the first half left Bremen ahead 1‑0.

After Stage’s penalty, Füllkrug’s second penalty restored the lead, and Cedric Itten replaced Füllkrug in the 74th minute. A near‑miss by 19‑year‑old Nevio Scheuer and a final strike by Reis completed the 3‑0 scoreline, leaving Lüneburg keeper Arne Exner with little chance.

Werder Bremen now turns its attention to the Bundesliga opener against SC Freiburg on 30 August at 15:30, while the club has secured a one‑year loan for midfielder from West Ham United. Fritz, the club’s Geschäftsführer, confirmed the free‑transfer arrival of Reis as part of the squad’s rebuilding.

Lüneburg plans to move its home games to a new Sportpark Bilmer Berg, with construction slated for 2028 and additional football pitches and a combat‑sport hall included in the project. The club hopes the new venue will host future Pokalspiele and elevate its standing.