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#vfb #stuttgart #enters #dfb #pokal #german #cup #final #beats #freiburg #face #bayern #munich">vfb stuttgart enters dfb pokal german cup final beats freiburg will face bayern munich next Tiago Tomás’ spectacular 119th-minute backheel goal sent Stuttgart back to the German Cup (DFB Pokal) final with an extra-time 2-1 win over Freiburg to keep its title defence rolling Thursday.
In the final in Berlin on May 23, Stuttgart will now aim to foil a Bayern Munich domestic double, which could become a treble if Vincent Kompany’s team wins the Champions League too.
The back-to-back cup finals for Stuttgart couldn’t be more different, facing a record-breaking Bayern — which beat Stuttgart 4-2 last weekend — after beating one of the competition’s biggest-ever underdogs, third-tier Arminia Bielefeld, in last year’s final.
Freiburg’s chances of an unusual double ended, but it’s still a contender for the Europa League title after reaching the semifinals.
The game was heading for a penalty shootout when Tomás produced a moment of individual skill by twisting in the air between two defenders as a pass came in from Badredine Bouanani and using his heel to flick the ball past Freiburg’s otherwise outstanding goalkeeper Florian Müller.
Tomás celebrated shirtless, holding a corner flag aloft to the crowd, and shrugged off the inevitable yellow card. Freiburg pushed for another goal and even sent Müller into the attack at a corner but it wasn’t enough.
“There’s not many words to describe what happened,” Tomás said. “I think it’s one of those nights. It will stay for me in my lifetime in my memory.”
Earlier, Freiburg took the lead when Maximilian Eggestein flicked Matthias Ginter’s header past the goalkeeper at a corner in the 28th minute. Soon after having a goal ruled out for offside, Stuttgart pulled level in the 70th when Undav finished off a counterattack for his 24th club goal of the season.
Undav turned creator, setting up his teammates for a series of chances as Stuttgart took control but Müller’s quick reactions kept his team in the contest, as Chris Führich had one shot saved just before the game went to extra time, and hit the post soon after. Freiburg was left aggrieved after Lucas Höler had a goal disallowed for bodychecking a defender.
Bayern reached the final for the first time since 2020 by beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Wednesday.
The cup offers a Europa League place for the winner, but that will now almost certainly revert to being an extra spot in the league standings since Stuttgart is on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League through the Bundesliga.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
Tiago Tomás’ spectacular 119th-minute backheel goal sent Stuttgart back to the German Cup (DFB Pokal)…
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#DFB #Pokal #Treblechasing #Bayern #Munich #reaches #German #Cup #final #years">DFB Pokal: Treble-chasing Bayern Munich reaches first German Cup final in six years
Treble-chasing Bayern Munich beat host Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Wednesday with goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz to reach the German Cup (DFB Pokal) final for the first time in six years.
The host was no match for the Bavarians, who were fresh from securing the league title on Sunday and in control for much of the game. Bayern also travels to Paris Saint-Germain next week for their Champions League semi-final first leg.
Leverkusen tried to stay competitive for about 20 minutes but then found itself 1-0 down with Kane drilling in from close range in the 22nd minute for his seventh goal in the competition this season.
“It was a top performance from start to finish,” Kane said. “We pressed them and won the ball high. We should’ve scored more goals and decided the game earlier.”
“Overall they didn’t create many chances and we deserved the win. We said at the start of the season that the German Cup was a goal. I’m really happy we made it there.”
The England international, who was man of the match and also leads the scorers’ list in the Bundesliga with 32 goals, went close again in the 40th minute with a powerful shot that flew narrowly wide.
By half-time, Bayern, without injured Serge Gnabry who will also miss the World Cup with an adductor muscle tear, had nine shots on goal to Leverkusen’s zero.
Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand is under pressure with his team also in danger of missing out on Champions League football next season. Yet his players became more aggressive after the break.
Nathan Tella tested Bayern’s Manuel Neuer with a low drive in the 52nd minute but the ‘keeper did well to palm it wide. The visitor, however, struck in stoppage time through Diaz to punch its ticket for the final. It will face the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between VfB Stuttgart and Freiburg.
“Since my first day at the club they have been talking about going back to Berlin and that we can bring them back there is a big thing for the club,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.
“It feels like we don’t have time to enjoy this success because we keep thinking of the next matches. But what matters is we are still in every competition.”
Published on Apr 23, 2026
Treble-chasing Bayern Munich beat host Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Wednesday with goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz to reach the German Cup (DFB Pokal) final for the first time in six years.
The host was no match for the Bavarians, who were fresh from securing the league title on Sunday and in control for much of the game. Bayern also travels to Paris Saint-Germain next week for their Champions League semi-final first leg.
Leverkusen tried to stay competitive for about 20 minutes but then found itself 1-0 down with Kane drilling in from close range in the 22nd minute for his seventh goal in the competition this season.
“It was a top performance from start to finish,” Kane said. “We pressed them and won the ball high. We should’ve scored more goals and decided the game earlier.”
“Overall they didn’t create many chances and we deserved the win. We said at the start of the season that the German Cup was a goal. I’m really happy we made it there.”
The England international, who was man of the match and also leads the scorers’ list in the Bundesliga with 32 goals, went close again in the 40th minute with a powerful shot that flew narrowly wide.
By half-time, Bayern, without injured Serge Gnabry who will also miss the World Cup with an adductor muscle tear, had nine shots on goal to Leverkusen’s zero.
Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand is under pressure with his team also in danger of missing out on Champions League football next season. Yet his players became more aggressive after the break.
Nathan Tella tested Bayern’s Manuel Neuer with a low drive in the 52nd minute but the ‘keeper did well to palm it wide. The visitor, however, struck in stoppage time through Diaz to punch its ticket for the final. It will face the winner of Thursday’s semifinal between VfB Stuttgart and Freiburg.
“Since my first day at the club they have been talking about going back to Berlin and that we can bring them back there is a big thing for the club,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.
“It feels like we don’t have time to enjoy this success because we keep thinking of the next matches. But what matters is we are still in every competition.”
Published on Apr 23, 2026
Treble-chasing Bayern Munich beat host Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Wednesday with goals from Harry Kane…