Stuttgart secured their place in a second consecutive DFB-Pokal final on Wednesday, April 23, as substitute Tiago Tomas delivered a stunning 119th-minute backheel to clinch a 2-1 extra-time victory over Freiburg in their semi-final clash. The defending cup holders will now face Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the May 23 showpiece final in Berlin, setting up one of the most anticipated cup finals in recent German football history.

How the Match Unfolded

Both teams adopted an attacking approach from the first whistle, though clear-cut chances were scarce in the opening exchanges. Deniz Undav tested his range with a long-distance effort that sailed over the bar inside the opening seven minutes, before the game turned increasingly physical. Jordy Makengo was booked for a foul on Jamie Leweling, with further cautions issued to Nikolas Nartey, Johan Manzambi, and Leweling himself as tensions rose.

Freiburg broke the deadlock in the 28th minute through a well-worked set piece. Matthias Ginter headed the ball back into the danger zone, leaving Maximilian Eggestein completely unmarked in front of goal to slot past Alexander Nubel. Stuttgart responded before half-time as Ermedin Demirovic lifted over in the 40th minute, Leweling went close from the left flank, and Undav was blocked in stoppage time.

Stuttgart Comeback and Extra-Time Drama

Coach Sebastian Hoeness clearly demanded more intensity after the break. Chris Fuhrich missed narrowly after the restart, and Freiburg goalkeeper Florian Muller denied Angelo Stiller from close range. Stiller did find the net moments later, but the goal was correctly disallowed due to Demirovic's offside position.

The equalizer finally arrived in the 70th minute. Substitute Bilal El Khannouss, introduced just seven minutes earlier, drove forward with purpose and released Undav, who finished coolly from a tight angle. Stuttgart continued to dominate as Undav struck the post in the 82nd minute and Muller made another crucial save late in normal time to force extra time.

The additional 30 minutes produced more near-misses. Fuhrich hit the woodwork in the 96th minute, and Muller produced a sharp stop to deny El Khannouss in the 104th minute. Freiburg held on desperately until Badredine Bouanani delivered a cross from the right in the 119th minute, and the arriving Tomas redirected it with a sublime backheel into the far corner to send Stuttgart through.

Hoeness Hails Historic Achievement

A visibly emotional Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness praised both sides after the final whistle. He said: I am super happy. It is unbelievable to score so late, and the fact that Tiago gets it makes it even crazier. Congratulations to Freiburg. Two teams fought with everything they had. It was a difficult game for us. We slowly took control and created more chances. I think we deserved to reach the final. I am glad we did not have to go to penalties.

What This Means for Stuttgart and German Football

Stuttgart's achievement of reaching back-to-back DFB-Pokal finals underlines the club's remarkable resurgence under Hoeness, who has transformed them into genuine title contenders in German football. As the reigning cup holders, they arrive at the Berlin final with the confidence of champions.

Their opponents, Bayern Munich, have won the DFB-Pokal a record 20 times and will be heavy favourites heading into the May 23 final. However, Stuttgart's ability to win from behind and produce late heroics makes them a formidable threat. The DFB-Pokal final at the Olympiastadion Berlin on May 23, 2025 will be the defining fixture of Germany's domestic football calendar this season.