Stuttgart will face Arminia Bielefeld in the final of the DFB-Pokal after beating RB Leipzig 3-1 at the MHPArena on Wednesday.
2024/2025 DFB Pokal
3-1
Match Report
The result saw Sebastian Hoeness' side reach their first final in the competition in 12 years, as they aim to win the tournament for the first time since 1997.
In what was Zsolt Low's first game in charge of Leipzig since taking over from Marco Rose until the end of the season, his team found themselves behind after five minutes.
Maximilian Mittelstadt's inswinging corner was cleared only as far as Angelo Stiller, who picked out the top-right corner with a stunning first-time volley on the edge of the box.
But Leipzig improved after going a goal behind, with Lois Openda seeing two strikes in quick succession repelled by Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nubel.
Neither side were able to find the back of the net at the end of a pulsating opening period, but Stuttgart were able to double their advantage in the 57th minute.
After neat work on the edge of the penalty area, Ermedin Demirovic combined with Nick Woltemade, with the latter collecting the ball and placing it past Maarten Vandevoordt.
But Benjamin Sesko halved the deficit just five minutes later, capitalising on some poor defending by Stuttgart to tuck home from Willi Orban's hopeful ball into the box.
Stuttgart, however, restored their two-goal cushion in the 73rd minute when Jamie Leweling stabbed the ball over the line following a goalmouth scramble.
Sesko threatened a nervy ending for the hosts when he rattled the crossbar late on, but Stuttgart were able to hold to seal their place in the final on May 24.
Data Debrief: Hoeness and Stuttgart reach new heights
Though Stuttgart have failed to replicate their Bundesliga success from last season in their current campaign, Hoeness has achieved greatness outside of that as he led his team to another landmark moment during his tenure with the club.
Indeed, Hoeness is only the second coach to qualify for the Champions League and a Cup final with Stuttgart, after Armin Veh, and they will likely be the favourites in the final, with the possibility of lifting a first major trophy since their Bundesliga success in 2006-07.
But the hosts were made to work in order to seal their place in the showpiece match. Leipzig ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.81 from their 25 shots to Stuttgart's 0.89 from their nine attempts.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' GOAL! Stuttgart 1-0 Leipzig (Angelo Stiller)
41' Match Event for Stuttgart vs Leipzig
57' GOAL! Stuttgart 2-0 Leipzig (Nick Woltemade)
62' GOAL! Stuttgart 2-1 Leipzig (Benjamin Sesko)
73' GOAL! Stuttgart 3-1 Leipzig (Jamie Leweling)
Line-ups
Stuttgart XI: Atakan Karazor, Alexander Nübel, M. Mittelstädt, Jeff Chabot, Ermedin Demirovic, Angelo Stiller, Enzo Millot, Ameen Al-Dakhil, Nick Woltemade, Jamie Leweling, Finn Jeltsch
Subs: Stenzel, Fabian Bredlow, Deniz Undav, Yannik Keitel, Chris Führich, Fabian Rieder, Leonidas Stergiou, El Bilal Touré, Luca Jaquez
Leipzig XI: Orban, David Raum, Openda, Ridle Baku, Maarten Vandevoordt, Nicolas Seiwald, Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Arthur Vermeeren
Subs: Gulacsi, Poulsen, Klostermann, Haidara, Lutsharel Geertruida, Christoph Baumgartner, Castello Lukeba, Tidiam Gomis, Viggo Gebel