Stuttgart secured a spot in the German Cup final with a commanding 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig on Wednesday, setting up a showdown with third-division Arminia Bielefeld in Berlin.
Under the gaze of Jurgen Klopp, who now oversees global football for Leipzig’s owners, Red Bull, the visitors struggled to match Stuttgart’s intensity. Goals from Angelo Stiller, Nick Woltemade, and Jamie Leweling sealed the win, as Stuttgart continued their resurgence under coach Sebastian Hoeness. The club now has a chance to claim its first German Cup title since 1997.
Hoeness, who took charge in April 2023, has transformed Stuttgart from relegation battlers to title contenders. Overjoyed by the result, he told German broadcaster ZDF, “We’re going to Berlin. Unbelievable. The lads are incredible. It’s a dream to travel to Berlin.” His post-match celebrations saw him sprint across the field to join his players and the jubilant home fans.
The five-time German champions and three-time cup winners will be favourites in the final against Bielefeld, who shocked holders Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Leipzig’s preparations for the match had been far from ideal. The club dismissed coach Marco Rose on Sunday, replacing him with interim boss Zsolt Löw. Klopp, a close friend of Rose, was in the stands watching as his former club failed to make an impact.
Stuttgart took the lead just five minutes in when Stiller unleashed a stunning volley from outside the box. Leipzig regained composure and created chances, with Lois Openda going close on multiple occasions, but Stuttgart doubled their lead in the 57th minute. Woltemade finished calmly after a slick one-two with Ermedin Demirovic.
Leipzig responded swiftly, with Benjamin Sesko capitalising on an offside trap to score in the 62nd minute. For a brief period, an equaliser seemed inevitable, but Stuttgart put the game beyond reach. Woltemade’s header found Leweling, who tapped in from close range to make it 3-1.
For Stuttgart, this marks their first German Cup final appearance since 2013, when they lost to Bayern Munich. Leipzig, who had previously won all four of their German Cup semi-finals, were denied a chance to add to their titles from 2022 and 2023.
