“Want to make our dream come true”

Just one more sleep and then the big day is finally here. VfB in the final, the DFB Cup trophy within touching distance and the chance to win a title. Victory would crown an eventful 2024/25 season and pave the way for an evening of celebration.

“We set ourselves a big objective and are here to lift the trophy in the air – that’s our shared aim,” said Sebastian Hoeneß.

VfB take on Arminia Bielefeld in the 82^nd DFB Cup final in front of a sold-out Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday (kick-off 20:00 CEST). Captain Atakan Karazor only has one thing in mind: “We want to make our dream, and that of our fans, come true.”

Hoeneß wary of Bielefeld

This season’s third division champions obviously add a special element to this year’s showpiece, having reached the final for the first time in the club’s 124-year history. Hoeneß is not underestimating them, though: “We’re facing a team on an exceptional run of form and they’ve knocked out four Bundesliga teams in the cup this season.”

Victories over Union Berlin (2-0), SC Freiburg (3-1), Werder Bremen (2-1) and most recently Bayer Leverkusen (2-1) have brought Bielefeld this far. VfB will do everything they can to stop that giant-killing sequence in its tracks.

Hope for Stiller

In terms of personnel, the boys from Cannstatt can go into the match with optimism. Yannik Keitel and Finn Jeltsch are both back in full training after recovering from knocks, while Angelo Stiller was involved in drills again after injuring his ankle in the 4-0 win over Augsburg on Matchday 33.

“So far his recovery has gone as we hoped it would,” said Hoeneß. “We’ll make a final decision on his involvement on the day of the game.” Leonidas Stergiou, Anrie Chase and Luca Raimund are all definitely absent.