Holger Badstuber will be in attendance at the Olympiastadion in Berlin when two of his former clubs meet in the DFB Cup final on Saturday 23 May 2026. The 37-year-old, who made 61 appearances for VfB Stuttgart, following 177 competitive outings for Bayern Munich, still follows both teams closely and remains involved in the game. Having won numerous titles during his playing days, the former defender knows all about handling the pressure that comes with playing in high-stakes finals.
Hello Holger, in your professional career you played most of your matches for Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart. Now the two teams are set to face each other in the DFB Cup final. What do you think makes this ‘southern showdown’ so special?
Holger Badstuber: “History, good football, players with outstanding individual quality, and also a certain level of prestige. There’s a lot that comes together. All of those elements are what give the ‘southern showdown’ its appeal. And especially in recent years, matches between Bayern and VfB have become really enjoyable again. Two clubs that both have a clear identity and playing philosophy are going head-to-head. I’m sure the final will be an attractive and entertaining match.”
Which leads us to the question of who the favourites are...
Holger Badstuber: “Bayern are the clear favourites, but VfB have developed step by step and have consistently produced good performances of late. In my opinion, it’s the ‘final of the best football’, because both teams play on the front foot, are proactive and want to create chances. Football fans can really look forward to this final.”
Bayern set the standard in the recently ended Bundesliga season, scoring 122 goals en route to winning the league title. As a former defender, how would you recommend stopping Bayern’s attack?
Holger Badstuber: “So many Bayern players are capable of posing a goal threat, and they’re all in top form. It’s impossible to completely contain an attack like that, so the key is to deny them space and make things as difficult as possible for their forwards. VfB have shown that they possess the tools and ability to do that. And then there’s Stuttgart’s own attacking game: they have intelligent players who play with real purpose. Bayern have conceded one or two goals in recent matches, and that’s something VfB will try to exploit.”
What’s your assessment of Stuttgart’s development?
Holger Badstuber: “It’s a positive development, and one that’s enjoyable to watch. In footballing terms, VfB have a well-functioning spine this season: Alexander Nübel in goal, Jeff Chabot in front of him in defence, Angelo Stiller and Atakan Karazor dictating play in midfield, and Deniz Undav alongside Ermedin Demirovic forming a strong partnership up front. There’s also plenty of quality out wide. Another major factor is that the core of the squad has been together for a while and has built strong understanding. As head coach, Sebastian Hoeneß has also succeeded in developing a style of play that brings out the team’s strengths. Switches of play, short passing combinations, clipped balls in behind the defence – Stuttgart’s range of attacking patterns and movements is really impressive.”
