VfB Stuttgart Secures DFB-Pokal Final Berth with Late Extra-Time Goal Against Freiburg
VfB Stuttgart has booked its place in the 2026 DFB-Pokal final after a dramatic 2-1 victory over SC Freiburg in extra time, setting up a fourth meeting this season with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. The decisive goal came from substitute Tiago Tomás in the 119th minute, capping a hard-fought semifinal that saw Stuttgart overcome an early deficit to reach the showpiece event in Berlin.
The match, played at Stuttgart’s MHPArena on April 23, 2026, began with Freiburg taking an early lead through Maximilian Eggestein in the 28th minute. Stuttgart responded before halftime, with Deniz Undav equalizing in the 39th minute to restore parity. Despite creating several chances in the second half, neither side could locate a winner during regulation time, forcing the contest into extra time.
In the first period of extra time, Freiburg appeared to have regained the lead when Eggestein scored again, but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review. The decision shifted momentum back to Stuttgart, who continued to press for a winner. Their persistence paid off in the 119th minute when Tomás, who had approach off the bench, latched onto a loose ball in the box and fired past Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu to seal the victory.
Stuttgart’s midfield engine Angelo Stiller delivered a standout performance, completing 87 of his 102 pass attempts whereas winning all five of his ground duels. He also contributed eight ball recoveries and two blocked shots, providing the platform for Stuttgart’s late surge. Goalkeeper Alexander Nübel made several crucial saves throughout the match, including a key stop to deny Freiburg’s Lucas Höler in the 78th minute.
The victory means Stuttgart will face Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal final on May 23, 2026, at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. This will be the fourth encounter between the two sides this season, having previously met in the DFL-Supercup in August (a 2-1 Bayern win) and twice in the Bundesliga, where Bayern prevailed 5-0 and 4-2. Stuttgart will be aiming to break their recent losing streak against the Bavarians in the cup final.
Historically, Stuttgart has faced Bayern in the DFB-Pokal final before, most notably in 2013 when Bayern won 3-2 at the same Berlin venue. That victory was part of Bayern’s historic treble-winning season, having already secured the Bundesliga and Champions League titles. Stuttgart will be hoping to overturn that outcome and claim their first DFB-Pokal title since 1997.
For Freiburg, the loss ends their hopes of a first major trophy since the 2021-22 season, having pushed Stuttgart to the brink in a tightly contested semifinal. Their goalkeeper Noah Atubolu made several important saves, including a one-on-one denial of Ermedin Demirovic in the 62nd minute, but could not prevent Tomás’s late winner.
Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeneß praised his team’s resilience after the match, highlighting the mental strength required to overcome adversity and secure a place in the final. He specifically credited the impact of substitutes like Tomás, whose goal proved decisive in the extra-time battle.
The DFB-Pokal final will take place on May 23, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT (6:00 PM local Berlin time) at the Olympiastadion. Fans around the world will be able to follow the match through official broadcasters and streaming platforms, with both teams aiming to etch their names into German football history.
As Stuttgart prepares for the final, their focus will shift to breaking down a Bayern Munich side that has dominated German football in recent seasons. Whether they can overcome the odds and lift the trophy remains to be seen, but their semifinal performance has shown they possess the quality and determination to compete at the highest level.
