Stuttgart vs SC Freiburg Match Preview: DFB-Pokal Semi-Final 2026

Stuttgart, the current DFB-Pokal holders, will face a tough challenge as they take on Freiburg at the MHPArena in a semi-final on Thursday. They will aim to recover after their last defeat, while Die Breisgau-Brasilianer are chasing a fifth straight win.

In the last DFB-Pokal final, Stuttgart beat third-tier Arminia Bielefeld by a final scoreline of 4-2. Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav scored one goal each, while Enzo Millot starred with two strikes. That trophy was the biggest moment of their season, as they finished ninth in the league. Even after losing players like Woltemade last summer, Stuttgart are now fourth in the table and look stronger heading into this semi-final.

Still, their recent form has not been steady. They have been switching between wins and losses in their last seven games across all competitions. Most recently, they lost 4-2 to Bayern Munich on Sunday, just a week after beating Hamburger SV 4-0.

Meanwhile, Julian Schuster’s Freiburg are in great form heading into the semi-final and could still achieve something special this season.

Freiburg have made it to the Europa League semi-finals after beating Celta Vigo 6-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. However, in the previous round of the DFB-Pokal, they needed a penalty shootout to get past Bundesliga team Hertha Berlin after a 1-1 draw.

Fans would rather forget that performance, as Freiburg have responded well since then. They have picked up momentum at the right time and are coming into Thursday’s match on the back of four straight wins.

In this article, we will take a detailed look at the upcoming DFB-Pokal semi-final clash between Stuttgart vs SC Freiburg. Let’s first take a look at the complete squads of both teams below.

Stuttgart Complete Squad for DFB-Pokal 2025-2026

Goalkeepers: Fabian Bredlow, Stefan Drljaca, Alexander Nübel, Florian Hellstern

Defenders: Ameen Al-Dakhil, Ramon Hendriks, Josha Vagnoman, Maximilian Mittelstadt, Luca Jaquez, Pascal Stenzel, Lorenz Assignon, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Julian Chabot, Finn Jeltsch

Midfielders: Angelo Stiller, Chris Führich, Bilal El Khannouss, Atakan Karazor, Nikolas Nartey, Chema Andrés, Yannik Keitel

Forwards: Tiago Tomás, Ermedin Demirović, Deniz Undav, Jamie Leweling, Justin Diehl, Badredine Bouanani, Jeremy Arévalo, Lazar Jovanović, Noah Darvich, Silas Katompa Mvumpa

SC Freiburg Complete Squad for DFB-Pokal 2025-2026

Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu, Florian Müller, Jannik Huth

Defenders: Philipp Lienhart, Anthony Jung, Lukas Kübler, Matthias Ginter, Philipp Treu, Christian Günter, Jordy Makengo, Maximilian Rosenfelder, Bruno Ogbus

Midfielders: Maximilian Eggestein, Patrick Osterhage, Nicolas Höfler, Johan Manzambi, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Yuito Suzuki

Forwards: Lucas Höler, Vincenzo Grifo, Jan-Niklas Beste, Maximilian Philipp, Igor Matanović, Derry Scherhant, Cyriaque Irié

Stuttgart vs SC Freiburg DFB-Pokal Semi-Final Match Preview

VfB Stuttgart are ready to face SC Freiburg in the 2025-26 DFB-Pokal semi-final. The match will be played at the MHP Arena and is expected to be a tight and exciting contest.

Stuttgart are coming into this game after a loss to Bayern Munich in the league. Their form has been a bit uneven lately, which could make things harder for them. However, playing at home under Sebastian Hoeneß will give them some advantage. Keeping that in view, they will be hoping to put in a strong performance and book their place in the German Cup final.

On the other hand, Freiburg have won two of their last four matches and will be hoping to keep that run going. Julian Schuster’s team have been fairly solid this season, and they still have a chance to go far in the UEFA Europa League.

SC Freiburg will be playing away from home in this cup match, but they are expected to give Stuttgart a tough fight. Considering that, they will be aiming to deliver a strong performance and reach the DFB-Pokal final with a convincing victory.

Stuttgart vs SC Freiburg: Team News

Stuttgart will miss centre-back Finn Jeltsch, who is out with a muscle injury. Because of that, Jeff Chabot and Ramon Hendriks could start in central defence for Hoeness’s side on Thursday.

Meanwhile, left winger Justin Diehl and Lazar Jovanovic are also unavailable due to muscle and back problems. In their absence, Jamie Leweling, Chris Fuhrich, and Bilal El Khannouss are likely to play behind Deniz Undav.

For Freiburg, centre-back Max Rosenfelder is out with a hamstring injury. Matthias Ginter is expected to be joined by Bruno Ogbus in defence, playing in front of backup goalkeeper Florian Müller.

Other than that, midfielders Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Patrick Osterhage are still recovering from injuries, so they won’t be available for this crucial clash. Because of this, Maximilian Eggestein and Johan Manzambi are likely to play in the middle, helping to support the attacking Yuito Suzuki.

Venue Details of Stuttgart vs SC Freiburg DFB-Pokal Semi-Final Match

• Venue: MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany
• Competition: DFB-Pokal 2025-26

Final Words

Stuttgart are still in the race for a Champions League spot in the Bundesliga, but their form has been up and down lately. It’s not clear yet if they can step up in a big semi-final against a strong team.

Meanwhile, Freiburg lost their last game against Stuttgart, but they are in good shape now. They have won four matches in a row and six of their last seven, so they are likely to give a tough fight away from home.

Considering these factors, we can expect a thrilling match ahead that will test the nerves of both sides. Stuttgart will have some advantage due to home conditions, but they can’t underestimate Freiburg, who are currently in a very good form.