FC St. Pauli will start with goalkeeper Ben Voll in the first DFB-Pokal round. Coach Marcel Rapp decides against rotation in goal and had his team practice penalties. The decision to start Ben Voll in goal shows that coach Marcel Rapp is opting for continuity. The 47-year-old apparently wants to build on the experience of his first-choice goalkeeper. FC St. Pauli is intensively preparing for the cup game against Rot-Weiss Essen. The team is practicing penalties and working on tactics. Coach Marcel Rapp said: „Ben will be in goal“. He is opting against rotation in goal and is relying on the experience of his first-choice goalkeeper. Rot-Weiss Essen started the new season with a 2-5 loss to 1. FC Saarbrücken and a 1-0 win over TSV Havelse. FC St. Pauli finished the 2025 season in 18th place in the Bundesliga with 26 points and a record of 6 wins, 8 draws, and 20 losses. They lost their last 4 games.