The cup has its own laws and we are likely to see this again in the first round of the DFB Cup. A visit from the likes of Bayern, Dortmund or Gladbach is the highlight of a lot of lower league teams' careers, so the DFB Cup has its own special charm.

Preview of the 1st round of the DFB Cup

The summer break is over and the first round of the DFB Cup is just around the corner. A total of 64 teams will take part in the 2023/24 season, including all 36 teams from the first and second divisions. We take a look at the first round of the cup and the most intriguing clashes.

We also take a look at this year's favourites.

What makes the DFB Cup so special

"The cup has its own rules" is a phrase you hear regularly at DFB Cup matches. Of course, the rules of football are the same in the cup as they are in the league, but the saying still rings true.

What makes the cup so special is the fact that every match is a knockout game and only that one match decides whether a team goes through or not. In addition, each match is drawn beforehand and, especially in the early rounds, teams from different leagues meet. This gives lower league teams a chance to take on the big boys and some of them excel every year. A David vs. Goliath dynamic is created and the after-school footballers annoy the football millionaires. We take a look at the most interesting matches from the first round.

The most exciting duels of round 1

Due to the huge difference in performances, the betting odds for the first round are often very wide. This is a point that excites punters and football fans alike. When betting on cup games, it is always important to make sure that there is an option to bet on the result after 90 minutes as well as on the progress of the game. With the majority of first-round games having a clear favourite, if you like betting on favourites, we recommend backing the winner after 90 minutes. This has the advantage of offering you more attractive odds and you will know the outcome of your bet immediately after the final whistle.

Due to the DFL Super Cup, FC Bayern München will play SC Preußen Münster and RB Leipzig will play Wehen Wiesbaden at the end of September.

Eintracht Braunschweig vs. FC Schalke 04 Friday, 11.08.2023 - 20:45

For many football fans, the highlight of the 1st round will come on Friday. Eintracht Braunschweig and FC Schalke 04 will meet in a match that will be broadcast live on ZDF.

Braunschweig vs. Schalke is the most attractive match for us, not only because of the fan interest. This is a clash between two second-division teams that are on a par in sporting terms. This is underlined by betting odds of around 3.40 for Braunschweig to win and 2.00 for the Königsblauen to do so. In terms of personnel, both clubs are in good shape, with Braunschweig only missing new signings Sidi Sane and Robert Ivanov. Schalke 04 will be without Leo Greiml, who is nursing a long-term injury, while Thomas Ouwejan is a doubt.

Both Schalke and Braunschweig have had a rocky start to the season. Braunschweig lost to Holstein Kiel and Magdeburg, while Schalke were beaten away at Hamburger SV. However, the Königsblauen will be slight favourites on Friday due to their individual quality.

If you are not sure whether you want to bet on the final result, you can usually find over/under bets or bets such as 'both teams to score'. This applies to all cup bets where they are offered.

Viktoria Köln vs. Werder Bremen Saturday, 12.08.2023 - 15:30

A clash between the first and third divisions takes place in Cologne on Saturday at 15:30. The match is particularly interesting because the third league is already in full swing and Werder Bremen, like all Bundesliga teams, have only been playing friendly matches. Werder's performances in these games have been less than stellar, most recently losing 2-1 to Strasbourg, and top signing Naby Keita is still out with an injury. The hosts from Cologne, on the other hand, got off to a flying start in the 3. Liga, beating SC Verl 3-1 in front of their home fans. Given the omens, they will also be expecting something against Werder Bremen. However, with odds of around 5.75 for Cologne to win after 90 minutes, third division side Viktoria Köln are the underdogs. Given the circumstances, we think an upset is still possible.

On the personnel front, things are looking good for Viktoria Köln, with injured strikers Hong, Mustafa and Becker expected to be back in the squad in time for the cup tie. Bremen coach Ole Werner will be without Naby Keita, captain Marco Friedl and former international Mitchell Weiser.

Arminia Bielefeld vs. VFL Bochum Saturday, 12.08.2023 - 18:00

Arminia Bielefeld take on VFL Bochum in a match that sounds like the Bundesliga of the nineties and early 2000s! More than 4,000 VFL Bochum fans will make their way to East Westphalia on Saturday to support their team. Like Werder Bremen, Bochum's clash with Bielefeld will be the first competitive match of the 2023/24 season. Bielefeld began their league campaign last weekend with a 3-1 defeat at Dynamo Dresden. Only club legend Fabian Klos remained from the relegated team. All other players have left the club.

Bochum's opponents are in a different frame of mind. After staying in the league last year, they will be playing in the Bundesliga for the third season in a row next season and should also go further in the cup this year. Gamblejoe's betting odds of around 2.00 for an away win after 90 minutes suit us well, and make for a clear recommendation for Bochum to win on the road.

This is how you can follow the games live

The TV rights are currently held by ARD, ZDF and pay-TV broadcaster Sky. On Friday, ZDF will broadcast Schalke's top match in Braunschweig from 20:45. The following matches will also be shown VFL Osnabrück vs. 1. FC Köln on Monday (14 August), Preußen Münster v FC Bayern München on 26 September and Wehen Wiesbaden v RB Leipzig on 27 September. All games kick off at 20:45 and will be shown live and in colour on Sky Sport.

Who can look forward to Bayern and Dortmund?

As mentioned above, FC Bayern will be playing away to Preußen Münster. Preußen Münster were promoted from the 4. Bundesliga to the 3. Bundesliga last season and are considered a contender for a mid-table position in the top flight. Their chances of pulling off an upset against the record champions from Munich are nothing short of miraculous. Bookmakers are offering odds of around 41.00. In our opinion, betting on the clash is not advisable, as the odds on the Munich team are too low and the chances of the Münster team winning are close to zero.

The signs are even clearer for the clash between TSV Schott Mainz and Borussia Dortmund on Saturday (12/08) at 15:30. The Bundesliga side from Dortmund are the biggest favourites in this year's first round with odds of 1.008. Betting on these mini-odds is pointless. Over-goals bets are not available at the moment, but will be worth considering once the bookmakers introduce this type of bet.

Last year in review

Last year, the first round of the cup was played between 29.07 and 01.08 as well as on 30 and 31 August. The biggest upset came when Elversberg sent Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen home 4-3. Another notable result was Stuttgarter Kickers' 2-0 win in the fourth division over Greuther Fürth, who were relegated from the Bundesliga at the time.

Less surprising was Braunschweig's 6-5 penalty shoot-out win over Hertha BSC Berlin. Eintracht Braunschweig are notoriously difficult cup opponents, with their cramped stadium and passionate fans making life difficult for the opposition.

As the competition has progressed, there have been fewer and fewer surprises. There was no repeat of KSV Holstein Kiel's success in 2020/21, when they even managed to beat FC Bayern.

In the end, RB Leipzig secured their second successive trophy with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Odds of outsiders in round 1

Every football match starts with a 0-0 scoreline and every team has the right to hope for an upset, especially in the DFB Cup. The rule of thumb in the first round is that the home team is the underdog. This is because only a handful of second-division teams, third division teams and amateurs enjoy home advantage in the first round.

We have taken a look at the whole field and come up with some underdog tips:

• FC Saarbrücken vs. Karlsruher SC, Friday, 11/08 at 18:00: Saarbrücken are considered to be one of the best teams in the 3. Liga and have a strong fan base that supports them like the twelfth man. Karlsruhe, on the other hand, are a second-division team that can certainly be beaten.
  SV Sandhausen vs. Hannover 96, Friday 11/08 at 6pm: Both teams played in the 2. Bundesliga last year. Sandhausen were relegated and thus secured home advantage in the 1st round. We can expect a fairly even match, with the underdogs Sandhausen having a realistic chance of beating the favourites from Hannover, who play in a higher league.
• FC Carl Zeiss Jena vs. Hertha BSC Berlin, Saturday, 12.08 at 13:00: Few clubs in German professional football are in more turmoil than Berlin. Relegation, financial problems and a host of side issues have left fans and officials alike in despair. Now it's up to Jena, an ambitious fourth division team with a great home atmosphere.
• Rot Weiss Essen vs. Hamburger SV, Sunday, 13.08 at 13:00: A clash of tradition in Essen! We can look forward to a festival of football. RWE of the third league meet Hamburger SV of the second league. Essen may have started the season with a defeat, but the mood in the Ruhr is anything but downbeat. Targeted reinforcements and an intact team structure mean there is hope of an upset. Rot-Weiss Essen are not to be taken lightly. They reached the quarter-finals in the 2020/21 season.
• VFL Osnabrück vs. 1. FC Köln, Monday, 14.08 at 20:45.: On Monday night, Osnabrück will host an NRW clash! The purple team from Osnabrück will host Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln. Osnabrück have always been known to beat teams from higher leagues. Two years ago they beat Werder Bremen 2-0.

1. FC Köln must also make up for the departures of Jonas Hector and Ellyes Skhiri. No easy task for the Bundesliga outfit. The clash will be broadcast live on ARD.

Who will win the cup?

Predicting who will win the DFB Cup has been a popular bet since the start of the season and is offered by almost every bookmaker. The usual suspects are among the favourites again this year. You should be aware that the odds change from round to round. For example, the odds will increase if a favourite such as Bayern, Dortmund or Leipzig face a similarly strong opponent in the second round or round of 16.

FC Bayern Munich - Cup favourites

As in the Bundesliga, the Munich team will start the DFB Cup season as one of the favourites. Coach Thomas Tuchel and the new management are in the process of overhauling the squad. Flop Sadio Mané has been sold to Saudi Arabia. At the back, South Korean Min-jaeo Kim has replaced the departed Hernandez.

After three years without a DFB-Pokal, it is unlikely that Bayern will return to the competition with an improved B-team. Looking at the current squad, Bayern Munich are the beacon of German club football and, despite some turmoil in recent years, will start the year with the mindset of wanting to win every title. The current odds on Bayern to lift the trophy are around 2.75.

Borussia Dortmund - Challengers in wait-and-see mode

Borussia Dortmund won the DFB Pokal for the fifth time in the 2020/21 season. Despite high-profile departures such as Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, BVB managers have always managed to put together a strong team. This year, Dortmund will once again go on the offensive to pose a threat to Bayern. With a bit of luck, we could see Borussia Dortmund going all the way in this year's DFB Pokal season. At the start of the season, the major bookmakers were offering odds of around 5.50 for BVB to lift the trophy for the sixth time.

RB Leipzig - aiming for third title in a row

The controversial Saxon club have been to four of the last five cup finals. An impressive record that looks set to continue. With quality players and a unique identity of up-tempo football and counter-pressing, Leipzig are capable of impressing Germany. On their day, even Bayern find it difficult to beat Leipzig. Over the winter, RB hired Max Eberl as their new coach, and he will continue to drive the Leipzig project forward.

The bookmakers have RBL as top favourites behind Bayern and Borussia Dortmund. Prior to the start of the season, they published odds of over 7.50.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Xabi Alonso on the rise

For Leverkusen, last year's change of manager has paid off. Since Xabi Alonso took over, the Werkself have gone from strength to strength. Last season's first-round cup exit is long forgotten. In Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann, Alejandro Grimaldo and Victor Boniface, Leverkusen have brought in quality players.

The bookmakers make Bayer 04 the early favourites among the outsiders, and we think odds of over 17.00 on the title are a good option if you are looking for fairly high odds on a team with a realistic chance of lifting the trophy.