VfB Stuttgart got the better of Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig to set up a 2024/25 DFB Cup final meeting with 3. Liga's Arminia Bielefeld.

VfB Stuttgart 3-1 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Stiller 5', 2-0 Woltemade 57' (assist: Demirović), 2-1 Šeško 62' (assist: Orbán), 3-1 Leweling 73' (assist: Woltemade)

Picking up the baton following third-tier Bielefeld's giant-killing heroics against holders Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart and Leipzig put on a real first-half spectacle at the MHP Arena. The visitors made a lively start, but were undone inside five minutes when Angelo Stiller crashed in a well-taken volley after Maximilian Mittelstädt's corner had only been half cleared. Ermedin Demirović was unlucky not to add another moments later, with his attempted chip well saved by Maarten Vandevoordt. Loïs Openda twice tested Alexander Nübel as two-time DFB Cup winners Leipzig sought a response. Xavi followed suit from range, before Ridle Baku cut inside and angled a shot wide.

Stuttgart strengthened their grip on the contest early in the second half as Nick Woltemade - having not long tested Vandevoort - capitalised on a mistake by David Raum to nestle a fine effort into the bottom corner for 2-0. Leipzig reduced the arrears almost immediately through Benjamin Šeško's neat finish from an unmarked position inside the VfB penalty area, but Stuttgart successfully negotiated the ensuing wave of pressure before giving themselves daylight. Woltemade was the provider, the Germany U21 forward's flick-on from a corner eventually being bundled over the line by Jamie Leweling. Woltemade and Šeško struck the woodwork as Stuttgart booked their place in the final on a chastening first night at the office for interim Leipzig coach Zsolt Löw.

Match stats 

• Stuttgart have previously won the DFB Cup on three occasions, their most recent success coming back in 1996/97. They last reached the final in 2012/13, losing to Bayern Munich's treble winners.
• Woltemade is this season's joint-leading scorer in the cup, with four goals. 
• Šeško, who has six goals in six DFB Cup games for Leipzig, also has four in this season's edition.
• Stuttgart are the 2024/25 DFB Cup's 14-goal top scorers, ahead of Leipzig (13).
• Havine overseen Bundesliga and Supercup runners-up finishes in 2024, Sebastian Hoeneß's second full season as Stuttgart head coach could end in a first piece of silverware. The semi-final was his 91st competitive game in charge.
• Leipzig's five semi-final appearances is the most of any team since their Bundesliga promotion in 2016.

Teams

Stuttgart: Nübel - Jeltsch, Al-Dakhil, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Karazor (c), Stiller - Leweling (Stergiou 77'), Millot (Rieder 76'), Demirović (Touré 90'+3) - Woltemade
Unseds subs: Bredlow, Jaquez, Stenzel, Führich, Keitel, Undav
Out: Chase (hamstring), Diehl (muscular), Nartey (thigh), Raimund (thigh), Vagnoman (muscular), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Leipzig: Vandevoordt - Nedeljković (Baumgartner 70'), Orbán, Bitshiabu, Raum - Baku (Gomis 80'), Seiwald, Vermeeren, Xavi - Openda, Šeško
Unused subs: Gulácsi, Geertruida, Klostermann, Lukeba, Gebel, Haidara, Poulsen
Out: Henrichs (Achilles), Kampl (ill), Nusa (knee), Ouédraogo (hamstring), Schlager (hamstring)
Coach: Zsolt Lőw

As it happened!

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About the clubs

RB Leipzig

Red Bull Arena

VfB Stuttgart

MHPArena

3 - 1

(1 - 0)

Stuttgart

FINAL

Leipzig

DFB Pokal
Semi-final Semi-final MHP Arena

Full-time: Stuttgart 3-1 Leipzig

And Stuttgart have done it! What a game! Stuttgart hold off a brief Leipzig fightback to win 3-1 and book their place in the DFB Cup final. Goals from Stiller, Woltemade and Leweling have given the hosts the victory they craved and they will be off to Berlin on 24 May to face Bielefeld for the trophy.

© IMAGO/Julia Rahn

90'

+ 5

Yellow card

Xavi Simons

Full-time

90'

+ 2

Substitution

El Bilal Touré

Ermedin Demirović

90'

5 minutes added on

We're into added time. Can Leipzig pull off a spectacular comeback? It looks unlikely.

87'

Šeško hits the bar!

And there is the chance the visitors have been looking for. The ball is swung in from the right to Šeško on the edge of the six-yard box. He hits it on the volley but the ball hits the bar and bounces clear. Openda then tries a bicycle kick but his shot is swiftly blocked by the face of Jeltsch and we have a little break as he receives treatment.

85'

Leipzig running out of time

The visitors are still fighting here but they can't seem to create anything in the last few minutes. Lots of crosses and possession but no chances.

80'

Substitution

Tidiam Gomis

Ridle Baku

79'

Leipzig still fighting

Leipzig are throwing players forward looking for a way back into this. Baumgartner picks up the ball and runs at the Stuttgart defence before striking it but his shot is deflected wide.

78'

Lőw picks up a yellow

Lőw marks his first game as manager with a yellow card for complaining.

77'

Substitution

Fabian Rieder

Enzo Millot

77'

Substitution

Leonidas Stergiou

Jamie Leweling

75'

Off the bar!

Woltemade battles his way through to get one-on-one with Vandevoort but he tries a chip and can only hit the crossbar. The referee then blows for offside but it definitely would have been close.

Stuttgart restore their two goal lead!

Stuttgart win a corner and the ball in from Stiller finds Woltemade. His header is cleared off the line but the rebound falls to Leweling who pokes home. Baumgartner tries to clear it off the line but the referee's watch shows that it was a goal.

© IMAGO/Hansjürgen Britsch

73'

Jamie Leweling

GOAL!

3:1

70'

Substitution

Christoph Baumgartner

Kosta Nedeljkovic

67'

More Leipzig pressure

Leipzig have two more chances, but to no avail. First, Baku gets on the end of a Raum cross, but his shot is blocked. Then Xavi fires over from the edge of the box.

Game back on!

Leipzig have a lifeline here. After some intense pressure on the Stuttgart goal, the hosts find themselves unable to clear. The ball is lofted back over the top to Šeško who makes no mistake and it's game back on!

© Alex Grimm

62'

Benjamin Šeško

GOAL!

2:1

Party in Stuttgart!

The hosts double their lead through Woltemade. Just moments after seeing his header well saved, Woltemade finds himself with the ball inside the box and he makes no mistake as he tucks the ball calmly into the corner after a nice one-two with Demirović.

© Alexander Hassenstein

57'

Nick Woltemade

GOAL!

2:0

55'

Good effort

Woltemade loses his man well to get on the end of a cross from Mittelstädt but his header is well saved by Vandevoort. Stuttgart then want a penalty for a challenge on Mittelstädt but nothing is given.

54'

First bit of action

For a moment, everything opens up for Leipzig but Šeško wastes the chance to feed Xavi in the middle. Stuttgart then go up the other end with Demirović but he shoots into the defender before Millot fires the rebound comfortably over.

50'

A slower start to this half

Both sides are still looking up for this but as of yet, neither side have been able to create a chance.

46'

Back underway

Leipzig get the second half started.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Stuttgart 1-0 Leipzig

Stuttgart hold a narrow lead at the break after an entertaining half of football. The hosts started the game quickly, piling on pressure before Stiller scored a fantastic volley to make it 1-0 after five minutes. After that though, Leipzig largely took control and had several chances to equalise. Most of those chances have been for Openda, but so far, the Belgian has been unable to get past Nübel. Still everything to play for in the second half.

© THOMAS KIENZLE

Half-time

45'

Two minutes added on

Just the two minutes added time in a first half that has flown by.

41'

Raum fires over

Xavi wins a free-kick in a dangerous position and in the end Raum is the one to take but his shot flies harmlessly over the bar.

36'

Baku comes close

Leipzig seem to be creating the better chances now. This time, Baku darts inside from the right and tries to curl one with his left, but his shot drifts just wide. Nübel looked beaten for a moment there.

36'

Yellow card

Nicolas Seiwald

35'

Stuttgart hang on

Openda once more has a chance but again he is denied by Nübel. Chabot then clears the second shot away well. That was a massive chance for Openda to equalise.

31'

Good strike but well saved once more

Leipzig whip a flurry of crosses into the box but Stuttgart manage to clear them all successfully until one falls to Xavi on the edge of the box. He strikes it first time but a block takes some of the sting out of the shot and Nübel holds the ball well.

27'

A lively game

There is a real bite to this match and the referee is doing his part well in allowing the game to flow. Neither side have been afraid to put a challenge in and for a moment there, things nearly bubbled over after a challenge on Openda but we're back underway now.

25'

Big opportunity

Demirović gets in behind once more, but instead of shooting when he has the space, he tries to beat one more man and in the end, Nedeljković is there to clear the ball behind for a corner.

21'

Could go either way

Both sides have created chances in the opening 20 minutes here. It seems unlikely that this game will be settled with just that one goal.

Action-packed start!

This game has had almost everything so far. It has been really end to end and everyone seems full of energy and commitment. It is Stuttgart that lead at the moment though.

© Alexander Hassenstein

16'

Another Openda chance

Same again as Openda once again forces Nübel into a good save. This time, the keeper keeps it out with his foot after Openda is set away in behind by Xavi.

15'

Openda forces a save

Nübel is forced into his first save of the night as he has to get down well to parry away a low shot from Openda that briefly looked destined for the bottom corner.

14'

Stuttgart dominating

The Stuttgart players are really up for this. They are hunting down every ball with real intent.

9'

Another chance for the hosts

Demirović seems to have recovered from his knock as he looks to get in behind. Woltemade manages to flick the ball his way, but he can't quite lift it over Vandevoort. Bitshiabu can perhaps count himself a little lucky as he did make contact with Demirović after he shot, but no penalty is given.

1-0 to the hosts!

Just moments after Mittelstädt almost gave Stuttgart the lead, it is Stiller who fires the hosts in front emphatically. From the corner won by Mittelstädt, the ball is only half cleared as far as Stiller, who hammers the ball home from the edge of the box.

© Alex Grimm

5'

Angelo Stiller

GOAL!

1:0

4'

Demirović struggling

Stuttgart's striker seems to be hobbling after being on the receiving end of a strong challenge from Seiwald.

2'

Nearly an early chance!

As he so often does, Openda immediately looks to get in behind the Stuttgart defence, but he is just about held off by a combination of Stuttgart players before he can shoot.

1'

We're underway in Stuttgart

Both sides are desperate for a chance to make the final.

Kick-off!

Stuttgart to start

Game on!

Players in the tunnel

Not long now before we find out who will be facing Bielefeld in the final.

A place in the final against Bielefeld on the line

And here is what both teams are playing for tonight. A spot in the final and the chance to lift the DFB Cup. The winner will face surprise finalists Bielefeld in Berlin on 24 May.

© IMAGO/Gerhard Schultheiß

More on those teams

Zsolt Lőw makes three changes from the Leipzig team that lost at the weekend as he takes charge of his first game. Vandevoort remains in goal as Leipzig's chosen cup goalkeeper with Nedeljkovic, Vermeeren and Šeško all coming into the side. A couple of Stuttgart's players are suspended for this weekend's fixture, but they have no such problems for the cup. The only change is up front, where Woltemade comes in for Führich.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Wolfgang Frank

Stuttgart starting XI

Nübel - Al-Dakhil, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Leweling, Karazor (c), Millot, Stiller - Woltemade, Demirović.

Stuttgart subs

Bredlow, Keitel, Touré, Jaquez, Stenzel, Stergiou, Undav, Führich, Rieder

Leipzig starting XI

Vandevoordt - Nedeljkovic, Orbán (c), Bitshiabu, Raum - Baku, Seiwald, Vermeeren, Xavi - Šeško, Openda.

Leipzig subs

Gulácsi, Castello, Baumgartner, Haidara, Geertruida, Poulsen, Klostermann, Gomis, Gebel.

0:58

Watch: All of the RB Leipzig's goals in this year's DFB Cup

Sit back and take in all of the visitors' goals in this year's competition.

0:56

Watch: All of VfB Stuttgart's goals in this year's DFB Cup

Enjoy all of the Swabians goals in this term's competition.

Early team news

Stuttgart remain without several players for this clash, especially in the defence. Anrie Chase and Dan-Axel Zagadou are the headline absentees for this one, with Josha Vagnoman facing a race to be fit. Leipzig, though, have injury problems of their own, with Benjami Henrichs, Xaver Schlager and Antonio Nusa amongst those who will miss out.

Leipzig's last-four form

Die Roten Bullen have successfully navigated all four of their previous semi-final appearances in the DFB Cup, the Saxony-based side advancing to the showpiece in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

© imago images / Jan Huebner

Stuttgart's seventh heaven?

Wednesday evening represents Stuttgart's 12th DFB Cup semi-final, with the Swabians previously reaching the tournament showpiece six times and lifting the trophy on three occasions.

© imago sportfotodienst

0:56

Watch: every Stuttgart goal in this season's DFB Cup 🏆

0:58

Watch: all of Leipzig's DFB Cup goals this season!

Sebastian Hoeneß on facing Leipzig

"The team is incredibly excited about this game. We've worked our way into the semi-finals and are still one step away from Berlin. The support from our fans will be incredibly important. We've seen often enough the energy we can create together in our stadium. That could be the deciding factor in winning the match."

© Christian Kaspar-Bartke

Zsolt Löw on facing VfB

"I know Sebastian Hoeneß very well. We know each other from Hoffenheim, but we were both here at Leipzig. [Stuttgart] are a very good team. They've developed a lot, but haven't been as outstanding in recent weeks as they were last season. Nevertheless, they're dangerous. We want to win the game with positive energy."

© IMAGO/Roger Petzsche

2:03

Watch: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 VfB Stuttgart - highlights

Stuttgart were also beaten by a single goal on Saturday, Mario Götze striking the winner for Frankfurt.

2:03

Watch: Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 Leipzig - highlights

Alassane Pléa hit the winner as Leipzig's indifferent form continued with defeat at Gladbach, which ultimately spelled the end for Marco Rose's tenure.

A change of coach

It's all change at Leipzig this week after some big news on Sunday. Marco Rose was dismissed in the wake of Saturday's loss to Gladbach, with Zsolt Lőw - a former assistant at Leipzig and to Thomas Tuchel at various clubs - parachuted in for Wednesday's semi-final and the rest of the season.

© IMAGO

DFB Cup fixtures and results

Find out more about how this season’s DFB Cup has panned out here.

© 2017 Getty Images

Top scorers

This match will feature three of the competition's top scorers this term, with Leipzig duo Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda, and VfB forward Nick Woltemade all on three goals.

© Maja Hitij

Stuttgart's route to the last four

VfB kicked their cup campaign off with a 5-0 success over Preußen Münster, and followed it up with victories over Kaiserslautern (2-1), Regensburg (3-0) and, most recently, Augsburg (1-0).

© Alexander Hassenstein

Leipzig's path to the semis

Marco Rose's charges have made it this far thanks to wins over Rot-Weiss Essen (4-1), St. Pauli (4-2), Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0) and a 1-0 quarter-final success over Wolfsburg.

© IMAGO/dts Nachrichtenagentur

2:03

Watch: VfB Stuttgart 2-1 Leipzig

Sebastian Hoeneß's side came out on top when these sides last locked horns, back in January this year.

Head to head

While this will be the first cup meeting between these teams, they have met 13 times previously in the Bundesliga. Stuttgart have won the two most recent matches, both at home, but beyond that the weight of history is very much on Leipzig's side with nine wins and two draws.

Hello and welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live match coverage of the second of this year's DFB Cup semi-finals. Who will make it to the decider in Berlin in May?