Stuttgart Edges Freiburg in Extra Time to Reach German Cup Final

STUTTGART, Germany — VfB Stuttgart booked their place in the DFB-Pokal final with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over SC Freiburg on Thursday, setting up a title clash with Bayern Munich at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on May 24.

The match, played at Stuttgart’s MHP Arena, saw Freiburg grab an early lead through Maximilian Eggestein’s headed goal from a Vincenzo Grifo corner in the 28th minute. The hosts responded before halftime, with Deniz Undav equalizing in the 70th minute after latching onto a through-ball from Ragnar Ache to develop it 1-1.

After a goalless 90 minutes, the game entered extra time. Stuttgart nearly took the lead in the 101st minute when Chris Friedrich’s shot struck the post, but the breakthrough came deep in the second period of extra time. In the 119th minute, Ache played a pass to the onrushing Undav, whose cross was met by substitute Tiago Tomás at the back post for the Portuguese winger to fire home and send the home crowd into raptures.

Tomás, who had only come on minutes earlier, celebrated by removing his shirt — earning a yellow card — as Stuttgart secured a 2-1 win to reach their second consecutive DFB-Pokal final. The victory avenges their 2020 semifinal loss to Freiburg and sets up a final-date rematch with Bayern Munich, who earlier in the day defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in the other semifinal.

Stuttgart, currently fourth in the Bundesliga table and chasing Champions League qualification, will face a Bayern side that has already clinched the league title and won all three meetings between the teams this season. The final will be held at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on May 24, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Local time (18:00 UTC).

The win also keeps alive Freiburg’s hopes of European qualification through alternative routes, as the Breisgau club remains in seventh in the league but has reached the UEFA Europa League semifinals, offering another path to continental football next season.

For Stuttgart, the triumph represents a significant step in their season objectives, combining a push for Champions League football via the league with a realistic chance to defend their DFB-Pokal title. The team will now turn full attention to the final, where they aim to overturn recent form against Bayern and lift the trophy for the second year in a row.

As the countdown to Berlin begins, both clubs know the stakes: one final hurdle stands between Freiburg and European soccer, while Stuttgart seeks to cap a memorable campaign with silverware — and Bayern looks to complete a domestic double.

What’s next: The DFB-Pokal final will take place on May 24 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Fans can follow official updates via the German Football Association’s website and the clubs’ respective channels.

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