Rot-Weiss Essen vs. FC St. Pauli 1910 (Resolved)

Rot-Weiss Essen enter the DFB-Pokal first-round clash at the sold-out Stadion an der Hafenstraße as clear market favorites on the back of strong home form and a competitive 2025/26 campaign that saw them finish third in the 3. Liga before narrowly missing promotion in the playoffs. FC St. Pauli, newly relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, arrive with just two points from their opening league fixtures and a lengthy winless run across competitions, prompting coach Marcel Rapp to name an unchanged, high-intensity side without rotation. Essen's recent 1-0 league win over Havelse contrasts with St. Pauli's defensive vulnerabilities and inability to hold leads, while the intimate cup atmosphere and home crowd amplify the lower-league side's disruption potential against a side still adjusting to the new campaign.