PLAYER RATINGS | Stuttgart 3-1 RB Leipzig: Stiller and Woltemade show secure first DFB Pokal final for VfB since 2013 | OneFootball

VfB Stuttgart secured their first DFB Pokal since 2012/13 after beating RB Leipzig 2-1 with goals from Angelo Stiller, Nick Woltemade and Jamie Leweling. Sebastian Hoeneß’ side had to withstand pressure from the visitors after taking an early lead in each half but remained defensively resilient and clinical in attack to set up a German Cup final against 3. Liga side Arminia Bielefeld.

Angelo Stiller gives Stuttgart an early lead

Although winless in their last six Bundesliga games coming into Wednesday’s clash, Stuttgart played with confidence in the opening minutes. A Jamie Leweling cross was met on the volley by Maximilian Mittelstädt at the far post whose shot was deflected over. Leipzig failed to clear the resulting corner which was met by Angelo Stiller. On his weaker right foot, the newly-capped Germany international fired the ball into the corner past a Maarten Vandevoordt after five minutes.

Ermedin Demirovic then forced Vandevoordt into another save but it was then Leipzig who enjoyed an extended spell of pressure. Loïs Openda forced Alexander Nübel into a superb save down low after 15 minutes before testing the German stopper again. Wasteful from the Belgian, Leipzig’s best chances came through the 25-year-old as VfB dropped to a back five when out of possession. Ridle Baku had a chance to equalise just before the break but his left-footed shot drifted narrowly wide of Nübel’s post.

A second-half played with intensity

Much like the first, the second-half was played with intensity. Woltemade almost doubled Stuttgart’s lead 10 minutes after the break with a superb header which was denied by Vandevoordt. But the German would soon score his fourth goal in seven games. VfB won the ball back with a high press and after one-touch football around the area, Demirovic found Woltemade who fired the ball low and hard beyond Vandevoordt.

But just like the first half, Leipzig again controlled possession and would soon get a goal back via Benjamin Sesko after a Atakan Karazor error just after the hour mark. As Leipzig probed for an equaliser, it was Leweling who gave his side a much-needed two goal cushion. The German winger was in the right place at the right time to prod the ball home from two yards after Leipzig failed to clear the area. After being checked for a marginal offside, VfB fans breathed a sigh of relief.

No team had enjoyed more success than RB Leipzig in the DFB Pokal with four trips in six years since their promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016. They also won the competition with back-to-back trophies between 2021 and 2023 but this time, it was Stuttgart’s night.

A team that has been transformed under Hoeneß, there’s belief among the Stuttgart fans once again. A German powerhouse, from finishing as Bundesliga runners-up last season to advancing to the DFB Pokal final for the first time since 2013, they go to Berlin as favourites.

Stuttgart vs RB Leipzig Player Ratings

Stuttgart: Alexander Nübel (7) – Finn Jeltsch (6), Ameen Al-Dakhil (6), Julian Chabot (6), Maximilian Mittelstädt (7) – Atakan Karazor (6), Angelo Stiller (8), Jamie Leweling (7), Nick Woltemade (8), Enzo Millot (6) – Ermedin Demirovic (7)

Others: Fabien Rieder (-), Leonidas Stergiou (-), El-Bilal Toure (-)

RB Leipzig: Maarten Vandevoordt (6) – Kosta Nedeljkovic (5), Willi Orban (5), El Chadaille Bitshiabu (4), David Raum (5) – Nicolas Seiwald (5), Arthur Vermeeren (4), Ridle Baku (6), Xavi Simons (5) – Loïs Openda (6), Benjamin Sesko (6)

Others: Tidiam Gomis (-)

GGFN | Daniel Pinder