DFB Cup | Stuttgart full of anticipation for Europe and Bayern

On Sunday, the next leg of the party marathon took place on Stuttgart's Schlossplatz, after coach Sebastian Hoeneß's team had already celebrated late into the night in Berlin. The extremely exuberant atmosphere at VfB also reflected the particular tension that had weighed on the Stuttgart players before this DFB Cup final against third-division champions Arminia Bielefeld. Immediately after the 4-2 victory, their faces betrayed that, alongside great joy, there was also a great deal of relief at having lived up to their role as favorites and securing VfB's first title since winning the German championship in 2007. With their fourth cup triumph after 1954, 1958, and 1997, Stuttgart had also concluded a difficult season with a great success – and saved their season's standings.

The mood at VfB was correspondingly diffuse. This was particularly evident in the coach. "I feel quite empty," Hoeneß said shortly after the trophy presentation, "I don't understand it yet. I'm overjoyed, you just can't see it because so much is going on inside me, in all directions." His players felt similarly. "I'm completely exhausted," admitted Maximilian Mittelstädt after the overall clear victory with goals from Nick Woltemade (15th minute), Enzo Millot (22nd/66th minute), and Deniz Undav (28th minute), before Bielefeld had narrowed the gap to 2-4 through substitute Julian Kania (82nd minute) and an own goal by Josha Vagnoman (85th minute).

The emotional chaos also had something to do with the fact that VfB had experienced complicated months and years. Shortly after Hoeneß took office, Stuttgart had avoided relegation from the Bundesliga in May 2023 in a relegation match against Hamburger SV. "It's been a long time since VfB won a title. Two years ago, that seemed a long way off," Hoeneß recalled. A year ago, he and Stuttgart had qualified for the Champions League by finishing second in the Bundesliga, from which they were eliminated after the main round this season. Furthermore, VfB had to settle for ninth place in the Bundesliga.

This made winning the cup all the more important for the bigger picture. Not only to avoid a humiliation against the second-division newly promoted team, but above all to reach the league phase of the Europa League. VfB are now looking forward to the European Cup with anticipation. Before that, the Swabians will have another chance at a title in the Supercup on August 16th. The first competitive match of the coming season will be the Supercup against FC Bayern, who are currently busy regrouping after the withdrawal of desired player Florian Wirtz.

Recently selected by national coach Julian Nagelsmann, striker Woltemade is hoping to win his personal treble through the Nations League Final Four and then the European Championship with the U21s in June. "I'd like to win a hat trick. I've got number one now," says the 23-year-old happily.

The decisive factor in the cup final was the difference in quality between the two teams. A prime example of this was the three minutes in the first quarter of an hour in which Bielefeld missed their first big chance and Stuttgart capitalized on theirs. First, Arminia's Noah Sarenren Bazee, unmarked from five meters, only hit the crossbar, before Woltemade, after a Bielefeld loss of possession and a through ball from the outstanding Angelo Stiller on the other side, ran clear toward goal and fired in the opening goal. And because Stuttgart played out two more counterattacks just as coolly, the final was decided after less than half an hour.

Millot first scored thanks to a quick counterattack following a Bielefeld corner and a misunderstanding between Sam Schreck and Marius Wörl. Shortly afterwards, Undav also scored after a quick counterattack when Bielefeld's Maximilian Großer lost the ball to Stiller in the build-up. VfB had coolly taken advantage of their first three chances, profiting in turn from Bielefeld errors. Millot's 4-0 goal was also preceded by a Bielefeld misplaced pass. After that, Arminia did score twice, becoming the first third-division team to score in a DFB-Pokal final, something Hertha BSC II (1993), Energie Cottbus (1997), and Union Berlin (2001) had failed to achieve.

Despite all the pride over a remarkable cup season, including promotion to the second division, "everyone was naturally disappointed," said coach Mitch Kniat. Nevertheless, there was still celebration in Bielefeld on Sunday: first with a parade through the city and then with a reception for the team at the town hall.