DFB Cup

Quarter-finals

BSC Hertha Hertha Berlin - SCF Freiburg Freiburg

Hertha Hertha Berlin

Freiburg Freiburg

P. Klemens
120'
120'
Y. Suzuki
P. Seguin
120'
120'
L. Höler
J. Brekalo
120'
120'
J. Manzambi
M. Cuisance
120'
120'
M. Eggestein
L. Schuler
120'
120'
M. Ginter
F. Reese
120'
120'
V. Grifo

F. Reese
104'
96'
Y. Suzuki

Olympiastadion(56,743 Spectators)

Patrick Ittrich

Full-time: Hertha Berlin 1-1 Freiburg (Freiburg win 5-4 on pens)

It's the visitors who will advance to the semi-finals, getting the better of a tense penalty shoot-out having surrendered their one-goal lead late on in extra-time. The hosts fought well throughout the game and asked plenty of questions of the Bundesliga side, but tonight wasn't their night.

Full-time

Penalty missed!

Taker:

Pascal Klemens

Yuito Suzuki

GOAL!

5:6

Penalty

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

Paul Seguin

GOAL!

5:5

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

Lucas Höler

GOAL!

4:5

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

Josip Brekalo

GOAL!

4:4

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

Penalty missed!

Taker:

Johan Manzambi

Penalty missed!

Taker:

Michaël Cuisance

Maximilian Eggestein

GOAL!

3:4

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

Luca Schuler

GOAL!

3:3

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

Matthias Ginter

GOAL!

2:3

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

Fabian Reese

GOAL!

2:2

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

Vincenzo Grifo

GOAL!

1:2

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

Penalty shootout

120'

+ 2

To penalties!

Despite their best efforts, neither side could find a late goal, so this quarter-final will be decided from the spot.

Full-time

119'

Yellow card

Luca Schuler

118'

Super sub?

Will either of the late changes be a hero for their side?

117'

Substitution

Cyriaque Irié

Niklas Beste

116'

Substitution

Pascal Klemens

Julian Eitschberger

114'

Hertha probing

The hosts are searching for a late winner with penalties looming, but Freiburg are dealing with everything thrown at them.

113'

Substitution

Lucas Höler

Igor Matanović

109'

Golden chance!

The ball falls to Cuisance in the box after a long throw and he snatches at the volley, seeing it go a couple of inches over from close range.

108'

Final stages

The second half of extra time is underway.

Kick-off!

105'

+ 3

Late drama

And just like that, we have two goals in a game of few opportunities. Will we see more in the second half of extra time?

Half-time

105'

+ 2

Yellow card

Paul Seguin

There it is, Hertha equalise!

What a strike from Reese! The goalscorer Suzuki is dispossessed and Reese receives the ball in a central position. He unleashes a rocket toward the top corner of Müller's goal, and Hertha are back in the game.

104'

Fabian Reese

GOAL!

1:1

Goal probability

5 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

21.61 m

100'

Time for a response?

Will Hertha manage to find an equaliser now, or can Freiburg hold out?

99'

Substitution

Jeremy Dudziak

Toni Leistner

Suzuki slots home, 1-0!

Arguably Freiburg's brightest spark tonight, Suzuki gets the opening goal just moments after his side could have gone behind. Gechter plays a pass back to his own 'keeper without looking and Suzuki gladly accepts it before slamming his finish past Ernst from close range.

96'

Yuito Suzuki

GOAL!

0:1

Goal probability

43 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11.12 m

95'

Incredible save!

Eitschberger finds Cuisance's run into the box, and the midfielder cuts inside past Manzambi before curling a shot toward the far corner. The ball looks destined to go in, but Müller sticks out a strong arm.

91'

Back for more

The first half of extra time has begun.

Extra time

90'

+ 5

Extra-time it is!

Neither side managed to find a goal in the second half, so will have half an hour more to do so.

90'

+ 4

Into the wall

Grifo slams his effort against the wall, and Beste flashes the rebound wide.

End of second half

90'

+ 4

Promising position!

Freiburg have a free-kick directly on the edge of the box after a late challenge from Leistner.

90'

+ 3

Yellow card

Toni Leistner

90'

Grifo wide!

The ball falls to him on the left of the area and he tries to find the far bottom corner with his right, narrowly missing the target.

85'

Frustrated

Reese fouls Treu in attempting to meet a cross as Hertha continue to struggle going forward.

82'

Clash of heads

Matanović and the recently introduced Schuler collide, with both now receiving treatment.

81'

Fresh legs

Both sides have made changes now, sensing that something has to change if the deadlock is to be broken.

80'

Substitution

Luca Schuler

Dawid Kownacki

80'

Substitution

Josip Brekalo

Marten Winkler

Suzuki swoops in

This time he intercepts a loose pass from Ernst, but Dárdai manages to recover and clear for a corner, which Hertha clear.

78'

Substitution

Johan Manzambi

Patrick Osterhage

78'

Substitution

Christian Günter

Jordy Makengo

74'

In control

Freiburg are dominating the ball now, but are struggling to break the hosts down.

70'

So close!

Suzuki picks Seguin's pocket just inside the Hertha box before feeding Grifo, whose deflected effort almost loops in past Ernst.

70'

Yellow card

Vincenzo Grifo

Scarce

There's been a lack of goalmouth action so far in this second half with both teams looking short of ideas in the final third.

66'

Immediate impact

Grifo floats a ball over the Herth defence and into the path of Beste, but he can't make contact with the ball and Ernst collects.

63'

Substitution

Vincenzo Grifo

Derry Scherhant

62'

Missed opportunity

Hertha get a free-kick in a promising position, but it only results in Dárdai heading wide.

59'

Comfortable

Seguin's corner falls straight into the arms of Müller.

58'

Corner

Karbownik makes progress down the left before seeing his cross blocked by Ginter.

53'

Dangerous cross

Scherhant slides a cross into the six-yard area which Dárdai clears.

51'

Early pressure

It's the hosts who have started this half on the front foot.

47'

The action returns

The second half is underway.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Hertha Berlin 0-0 Freiburg

This entertaining first 45 ends goalless, with both sides having gone close to opening the scoring. Hertha actually had the ball in the net early on, but saw the goal chalked off for offside, while Scherhant was denied a goal on his return to the capital by a fantastic save from Ernst. It's still all to play for!

Half-time

45'

+ 2

Suzuki denied!

He breaks away and heads toward goal before shooting from just outside the box. His effort is too central though and Ernst makes another save before the whistle blows for half-time.

44'

Sneaky effort

Cuisance is found to the right of the area and squeezes in a shot from a difficult position, which skips wide of the far post.

41'

Scherhant!

The ex-Hertha man threatens again. He fires in an effort from the left of the area, which is fingertipped past the far post by the 'keeper.

37'

Slowing down

The pace of the game has gone down a notch as Hertha struggle to progress the ball past Freiburg's press.

End-to-end

Neither side has taken control of the game, with consistent turnovers in possession making for an exciting affair so far.

28'

Nervy visitors

Rosenfelder gifts the ball to Winkler inside the Freiburg half and the wide man charges toward goal. He eventually unleashes a shot from a difficult angle on the edge of the box and sees it clear the bar.

25'

Ernst saves

Freiburg break quickly with Suzuki, who drives to the edge of the Hertha box before hitting a low shot toward the far corner which Ernst is equal to.

Big chance!

Scherhant takes the ball on the turn at the far post before firing at goal from close range, but Ernst does brilliantly to rush out and make a save.

Wasting no time

It's been far from cagey so far with both sides threatening the opposition's area early on.

11'

Bright start

The hosts have put Freiburg under real pressure in these opening stages, and weren't far away from taking an early lead.

Offside!

Eitschberger was offside in the build up to that goal and it is therefore ruled out.

SituationGoal

ReviewOffside?

DecisionNo goal

Goal, Hertha lead!

The hosts take a short corner and Cuisance bends in a delicious cross into the area. Eitschberger forces a brilliant save from Müller but the ball falls to Reese just a couple of yards from goal, and he happily pokes home.

Winkler wide

A brilliant cross finds him at the far post, where he glances his header wide after escaping the from Treu.

Suzuki from range

He lets an ambitious effort fly from distance and it clips the roof of the net as it flies over.

Off we go!

Freiburg get the action underway.

Kick-off!

The stage is set

The Olympiastadion is ready and waiting for this intriguing cup quarter-final.

More on that Hertha team

From their recent win against Elversberg, Kownacki (pictured) replaces Schuler up front, Dárdai comes in for Klemens in midfield and Eitschberger comes in for Zeefuik in defence.

More on that Freiburg team

Three noticeable names drop to the bench for the visitors, with Atubolu, Grifo and Manzambi being replaced by Müller, Scherhant and Suzuki (pictured). Treu and Makengo also come in for Ogbus and Günter from their win over Bremen.

Starting line-up: Hertha BSC

Hertha subs

Gersbeck, Klemens, Brooks, Dudziak, Sessa, Brekalo, Jensen, Schuler, Grönning

Starting line-up: Sport-Club Freiburg

Freiburg subs

Atubolu, Jung, Günter, Ogbus, Höfler, Grifo, Manzambi, Höler, Irié

Winning material

Both teams have a DFB Cup winner in their ranks. Ginter won the competition with Dortmund in 2017 and started in their final win over Eintracht Frankfurt, while Hertha's Michaël Cuisance lifted the trophy with Bayern Munich in 2020.

Back in cup business

The last time Hertha reached a DFB Cup semi-final was in the 2015/16 season, when they fell to a 3-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, when Matthias Ginter was still a BVB player. Freiburg's last visit to the last four of the cup came in the 2022/23 season, when they were convincingly beaten (5-1) by eventual winners RB Leipzig.

Scherhant's return

Freiburg forward Derry Scherhant only joined the club from Hertha in the summer and will now attempt to knock his former employers out of the cup in his first meeting with them as a Freiburg player. Scherhant made 78 appearances while at the capital club, scoring 12 goals.

Leitl's Hertha hurdle

Julian Schuster has never faced Hertha as a coach, but his opposite number Stefan Leitl has come up against Freiburg on two occasions. He's yet to win against the Breisgau club, drawing one and losing one of those previous encounters, both of which were in the 2021/22 Bundesliga season when he was in charge of Greuther Fürth.

Round two

This is only the second time these two have met in the DFB Cup, with their previous meeting ending in a 4-2 win for Hertha in the second round in 1992. Their shared Bundesliga history is much more even, with Hertha winning 11 of 34 meetings while Freiburg won 10, with 13 draws in between.

Big crowd due in Berlin

At least 55,000 spectators are expected at the iconic Olympiastadion, with Stefan Leitl saying: "I am hoping for a lot of support. We'll need it to have a chance. They have to raise the roof!"

Team news - Hertha

The Berlin side will be without Diego Demme, Niklas Kolbe, Kennet Eichhorn and Maurice Krattenmacher, along with Deyovaisio Zeefuik, who has been ruled out with a knee injury and could be replaced by Julian Eitschberger. Márton Dárdai (pictured) is a doubt after missing the win at Elversberg, while Luca Schuler and Dawid Kownacki are vying to lead the attacking line.

Team news - Freiburg

The Bundesliga side's defensive crisis is easing somewhat with Philipp Treu (pictured) back in the squad for the DFB Cup tie after sitting out the league encounter against Bremen. Lukas Kübler and Philipp Lienhart remain sidelined. Johan Manzambi can play despite being suspended for three Bundesliga matches following his red card, while Julian Schuster confirmed Florian Müller will start as first-choice cup goalkeeper.

Matanović goal threat

Freiburg striker Igor Matanović has scored four of his five Bundesliga goals this season since the winter break - and also has a goal in the DFB Cup campaign, in a 3-1 win at Fortuna Düsseldorf in October.

Stefan Leitl on facing Hertha

"Freiburg are an incredibly good team who still in three competitions. That shows the quality we're up against. That's why we'll be the underdogs and have to adapt."

Julian Schuster on facing Hertha

"It means at least as much to them as it does to us. We’re looking forward to a special atmosphere and backdrop, but it's going to be tough. They're well organised and difficult to beat."

2:03

Watch: Freiburg 1-0 Bremen - highlights

Freiburg's most recent Bundesliga match came on Matchday 21, in which they defeated Werder Bremen 1-0 at home thanks to a goal from Jan-Niklas Beste. While they've been fairly strong at home, the side's away form may worry head coach Julian Schuster, as they're without a win in their last four trips on the road.

2:14

Watch: Elversberg 0-3 Hertha - highlights

The Bundesliga 2 side come into this cup clash on the back of a thumping 3-0 away win at Elversberg. Prior to that, Hertha drew their previous four league matches, meaning they're unbeaten in all competitions since 7 December 2025.

2:03

Watch: Freiburg 1-1 Hertha - previous meeting

These teams last played in April 2023, with Hertha relegated from the Bundesliga shortly after. Vincenzo Grifo opened the scoring before Jessic Ngankam levelled things up in the second.

Hertha - the story so far

Hertha have beaten a trio of Bundesliga 2 counterparts to get this far. After battling past Preußen Münster on penalties and winning 3-0 at home to Elversberg, the Old Lady chalked up a hulking 6-1 victory over Kaiserslautern in the round of 16.

Freiburg - the story so far

Freiburg have already seen off Bundesliga 2 opposition twice, beating Darmstadt 2-0 in the last 16 and Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-1 in the second round. Julian Schuster's men also got the better of fourth-tier Lotte in round one (2-0).

Welcome!

Freiburg face a potential banana skin in the 2025/26 DFB Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday (kick-off: 8.45pm CET). Stay tuned for build-up and live match coverage from Hertha Berlin's historic Olympic Stadium!