Stuttgart vs Freiburg - prediction, team news, lineups

DFB-Pokal holders Stuttgart volition look their toughest trial yet successful the German cupful erstwhile they invited Freiburg to MHPArena for a semi-final showdown connected Thursday.

Die Roten are hoping to bounce backmost from decision past clip out, portion Die Breisgau-Brasilianer volition beryllium looking for a 5th consecutive victory.

Match preview

Sebastian Hoeness has led Stuttgart to an fantabulous Bundesliga campaign truthful far, and volition beryllium keen to supplement imaginable Champions League qualification by lifting the cupful successful back-to-back seasons.

In the last of 2024-25's variation of the DFB-Pokal, Die Roten beat then-third-tier Arminia Bielefeld 4-2, acknowledgment to goals from Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav, arsenic good arsenic a brace Enzo Millot.

That trophy was the item of Hoeness's side's run fixed that the squad finished ninth successful the German apical flight, but contempt losing the likes of Woltemade past summer, Stuttgart are presently 4th successful the league, and caput into Thursday's semi-final a tougher hostile than successful the past.

However, the holders person been inconsistent successful caller weeks - alternating betwixt triumph and decision implicit their past 7 matches crossed each competitions - having been downed 4-2 by Bayern Munich connected Sunday aft thrashing Hamburger SV 4-0 7 days prior.

To marque matters worse, the hosts' inconsistency has not spared their location signifier - 3 wins and 3 losses astatine MHPArena person followed their 3-1 triumph implicit FC Koln connected Valentine's Day.

Additionally, Die Roten beat Holstein Kiel 3-0 successful February 4's quarter-final to scope this stage, and considering that the hosts person travel up against 2.Bundesliga clubs successful 3 of their 4 FDB-Pokal outings this season, it remains to beryllium seen however they woody with in-form Freiburg.

On that aforesaid note, the lone Bundesliga broadside Stuttgart person faced successful the cupful was a then-relegation-threatened Mainz 05 backmost successful October, and fans would beryllium forgiven for heading to the crushed little than assured arsenic a result.

Meanwhile, Julian Schuster's Freiburg are successful fantabulous signifier up of the semi-final, and could yet propulsion disconnected a singular treble successful 2025-26.

Die Breisgau-Brasilianer person reached the past 4 of the Europa League aft thrashing La Liga's Celta Vigo 6-1 connected aggregate successful the quarter-finals, though it did instrumentality a punishment shootout for the nine to get the amended of 2.Bundesliga broadside Hertha Berlin aft a 1-1 draw successful the DFB-Pokal's erstwhile round.

Fans volition beryllium keen to hide that performance, and Schuster's men person helped them to bash truthful by hitting their stride astatine the concern extremity of the campaign, putting unneurotic a tally of 4 consecutive victories going into Thursday's showdown.

Most recently, Freiburg downed Heidenheim 2-1 connected Sunday, courtesy of an opener from Johan Manzambi and a precocious victor from Maximilian Eggestein, some of whom are apt to commencement successful midfield this week.

Success against FCH means that Die Breisgau-Brasilianer person present won 5 of their past six games crossed each competitions, lone marring that agelong with a narrow 3-2 decision against Bayern connected April 4.

However, Freiburg supporters heading to the lucifer volition beryllium prepared 4 a pugnacious clash aft seeing their squad lose 1-0 astatine MHPArena connected February 2, but fixed that the visitors person won 3 distant trips connected the bounce earlier the semi-final, they volition besides beryllium cautiously optimistic.

Stuttgart DFB-Pokal form:

Stuttgart signifier (all competitions):

Freiburg DFB-Pokal form:

Freiburg signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Stuttgart volition beryllium without centre-back Finn Jeltsch arsenic helium recovers from a musculus injury, truthful Jeff Chabot and Ramon Hendriks could commencement astatine the bosom of Hoeness's defence connected Thursday.

At the other extremity of the pitch, near winger Justin Diehl and 19-year-old chap wide man Lazar Jovanovic are sidelined with respective musculus and backmost issues, though Jamie Leweling, Chris Fuhrich and Bilal El Khannouss should beryllium connected manus to commencement down Deniz Undav. 

As for Freiburg, they are missing centre-half Max Rosenfelder owed to a hamstring injury, and Matthias Ginter is apt to beryllium joined by Bruno Ogbus successful beforehand of backup shot-stopper Florian Muller successful midweek.

Elsewhere midfielders Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Patrick Osterhage are some moving their mode backmost from injuries and volition beryllium unavailable arsenic a result, truthful expect to see Maximilian Eggestein and Johan Manzambi patrol the centre of the park, supporting the attack-minded Yuito Suzuki.

Stuttgart imaginable starting lineup:

Nubel; Vagnoman, Hendriks, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; Leweling, El Khannouss, Fuhrich; Undav

Freiburg imaginable starting lineup:

Muller; Treu, Ginter, Ogbus, Makengo; Eggestein, Manzambi; Beste, Suzuki, Scherhant; Matanovic 

We say: Stuttgart 1-2 Freiburg

Stuttgart are connected people to unafraid Champions League shot successful the Bundesliga, but their caller grounds has been inconsistent, and it remains to beryllium seen whether they tin emergence to the juncture of facing an in-form hostile successful a semi-final.

Freiburg mislaid their astir caller gathering with Die Roten, but they travel into Thursday's clash having won 4 games connected the bounce - and 5 of their past six - truthful expect a beardown showing from the visitors.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.