Wednesday 29 October 2014 09:19, UK
Borussia Dortmund put their Bundesliga problems aside to progress through to the last 16 of the DFB-Pokal with a 3-0 victory at St Pauli.
Dortmund have taken just one point from their last six league matches to sit just one point and one place above the bottom three, and this weekend they face a daunting trip to mighty Bayern Munich.
However, as has been the case in the Champions League where they have won three from three without conceding, Dortmund relished the escape from Bundesliga action by brushing aside second-tier St Pauli in the cup on Tuesday night.
Ciro Immobile and Marco Reus gave a strong Dortmund side a 2-0 half-time lead before Shinji Kagawa added a third four minutes from half-time for the 2012 winners.
Werder Bremen, who prop up the Bundesliga after failing to win any of their opening eight games, also avoided an upset as they defeated Chemnitz 2-0 following goals in either half from Fin Bartels and Franco Di Santo.
It was not such a good night for all top-flight teams, though, as Hannover and Hertha Berlin were both sent crashing out.
Hannover, who are seventh in the league and beat Dortmund at the weekend, were defeated 2-0 at Aalen while Hertha lost 4-2 on penalties against 3.Liga leaders Arminia Bielefeld after a goalless draw.
Cologne were also taken to a penalty shoot-out by local rivals Duisburg after having Slawomir Peszko sent off in the 71st minute of a 0-0 stalemate, but Peter Stoger's side avoided embarrassment by winning through 4-1 on spot-kicks.
In other matches, a Justin Eilers brace - including a 94th-minute winner - earned 3.Liga Dynamo Dresden a 2-1 win over Bochum after extra-time, while Philipp Hofmann's first-half double gave Kaiserslautern a 2-0 triumph over Greuther Furth.
There will also be representation in the last 16 from the regional fourth tier after Kickers Offenbach downed second-division Karlsruhe 1-0.
