Borussia Dortmund eased to a 2-0 victory at third-division Dynamo Dresden on Tuesday to book their place in the German Cup quarter-finals thank to Ciro Immobile's second-half goals.
The Italy striker pounced on a mistake by Dresden captain Michael Hefele to give Dortmund a 50th-minute lead and lit up a dull third-round tie to put the 2012 cup winners into the last eight.
Immobile then added Dortmund's second when he fired home a superb cross from Poland winger Jakub Blaszczykowski on 90 minutes.
"These are tough games, in which the opponents fight until they fall, in a great atmosphere," said Immobile.
"It was important for me to score and help the side try and get to the Berlin final."
Having failed to make his mark in the Bundesliga this season since joining from Turin, Immobile is turning into Dortmund's European and Cup king having netted four goals in six Champions League games with three in two Cup matches.
With the win coming on the back of four straight Bundesliga wins, the only bad news for Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp was the injury to Germany winger Marco Reus, who had to be helped off in the first-half.
This was a more peaceful affair after rioting blighted the 2011 cup meeting between the two sides in Dortmund before Dresden were thrown out of the competition all together last season due to more trouble at Hanover 96 in October 2013.
Holders Bayern Munich host second division strugglers Eintracht Braunschweig on Wednesday while fellow Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen needed extra-time at home to claim a 2-0 win over second-division Kiessling.
After a goalless first 90 minutes, Bayer pulled ahead when Turkey midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu curled home a free-kick in the 102nd minute before Germany striker Stefan Kiessling added their second in the 114th minute.
Bundesliga side Hofffenheim enjoyed a 2-0 win at second-division VfR Aalen from Baden-Wuerttemberg.
In the round's only all-Bundesliga tie, Freiburg ran out 2-1 winners at home to Cologne as Nigeria striker Anthony Ujah's own goal gave the hosts an early lead before Czech midfielder Vladimir Darida added a second on 19 minutes.
Darida had a 65th-minute penalty shot saved which would have sealed the game before Brazil striker Deyverson scored his first goal for Cologne a minute from time to give the visitors some consolation.
Source: AFP