Looking back: Fourth and final clash of the season
This is already the fourth meeting between VfB and FC Bayern in the current campaign. After kicking off the season in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup in August, two more encounters followed in the Bundesliga. Bayern came out on top on all three occasions, winning 2-1, 5-0 and 4-2. Chema scored two of the three goals against the German record champions, with Chris Führich also netting the opening goal in the Bundesliga fixture in Munich.
Four out of seven: Good record – but not against Bayern
Stuttgart are appearing in the DFB Cup final for the eighth time. VfB have triumphed in four of the seven previous showdowns, most recently against Arminia Bielefeld (4-2) last year. However, two of the three final defeats have come against Bayern – in 1986 (5-2) and 2013 (3-2). Victory this time would see VfB draw level with Borussia Dortmund, FC Schalke 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt on five cup successes.
The road to Berlin:
First round
Wehen Wiesbaden – FC Bayern 2-3
Eintracht Braunschweig – VfB 4-4 (7-8 on penalties)
Second round
1.FC Köln – FC Bayern 1-4
1.FSV Mainz 05 – VfB 0-2
Round of 16
1.FC Union Berlin – FC Bayern 2-3
VfL Bochum – VfB 0-2
Quarter-finals
FC Bayern – RB Leipzig 2-0
Holstein Kiel – VfB 0-3
Semi-finals
Bayer Leverkusen – FC Bayern 0-2
VfB – SC Freiburg 2-1 (after extra time)
Runs: Three club records for VfB
Holders VfB have reached back-to-back DFB Cup finals for the first time. Eleven straight wins in the competition as well as 20 consecutive cup ties with at least one goal scored are also current club records.
Neck-and-neck: Deniz Undav and Harry Kane leading cup stats
Since the start of the last DFB Cup campaign, Deniz Undav has registered nine goal involvements in nine appearances (five goals, four assists). That’s the joint most in this period together with Bayern striker Harry Kane (eight goals, one assist). Undav’s been directly involved in at least one goal in each of his last four Pokal outings, scoring three and setting up two – his longest streak in the competition. He also provided a goal and an assist in the 2025 final.
Crowd: At least 25,000 VfB fans in the capital
The Olympiastadion in Berlin is sold out for the 83rd DFB Cup final.
