Preview: Stuttgart vs Freiburg – prediction, team news, lineups

DFB-Pokal holders Stuttgart will face their hardest take a look at but within the German cup after they welcome Freiburg to MHPArena for a semi-ultimate showdown on Thursday.

Die Roten are hoping to bounce again from defeat final day out, whereas Die Breisgau-Brasilianer can be on the lookout for a fifth straight victory.

Match preview

Sebastian Hoeness has led Stuttgart to a wonderful Bundesliga marketing campaign to date, and can be eager to complement potential Champions League qualification by lifting the cup in again-to-again seasons.

In the ultimate of 2024-25’s version of the DFB-Pokal, Die Roten beat then-third-tier Arminia Bielefeld 4-2, due to objectives from Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav, in addition to a brace Enzo Millot.

That trophy was the spotlight of Hoeness’s facet’s marketing campaign provided that the team completed ninth within the German high flight, however regardless of dropping the likes of Woltemade final summer time, Stuttgart are presently fourth within the league, and head into Thursday’s semi-ultimate a harder opponent than previously.

However, the holders have been inconsistent in current weeks – alternating between victory and defeat over their final seven matches throughout all competitions – having been downed 4-2 by Bayern Munich on Sunday after thrashing Hamburger SV 4-0 seven days prior.

To make issues worse, the hosts’ inconsistency has not spared their residence kind – three wins and three losses at MHPArena have adopted their 3-1 victory over FC Koln on Valentine’s Day.

Additionally, Die Roten beat second-division Holstein Kiel 3-0 in February 4’s quarter-ultimate to achieve this stage, and contemplating that the hosts have come up towards 2.Bundesliga golf equipment in three of their 4 DFB-Pokal outings this season, it stays to be seen how they cope with in-kind Freiburg.

On that very same observe, the one Bundesliga facet Stuttgart have confronted within the cup was a then-relegation-threatened Mainz 05 again in October, and followers can be forgiven for heading to the bottom lower than assured consequently.

© Imago / STEINSIEK.CH

Meanwhile, Julian Schuster‘s Freiburg are in glorious kind forward of the semi-ultimate, and will but pull off a exceptional double in 2025-26.

Die Breisgau-Brasilianer have reached the final 4 of the Europa League after thrashing La Liga‘s Celta Vigo 6-1 on aggregate within the quarter-finals, although it did take a penalty shootout for the membership to get the higher of two.Bundesliga facet Hertha Berlin after a 1-1 draw within the DFB-Pokal’s earlier spherical.

Fans can be eager to overlook that latter efficiency, and Schuster’s males have helped them to take action by hitting their stride on the enterprise finish of the marketing campaign, placing collectively a run of 4 consecutive victories going into Thursday’s showdown.

Most just lately, Freiburg downed Heidenheim 2-1 on Sunday, courtesy of an opener from Johan Manzambi and a late winner from Maximilian Eggestein, each of whom are prone to begin in midfield this week.

Success towards FCH signifies that Die Breisgau-Brasilianer have now received six of their final seven video games throughout all competitions, solely marring that stretch with a narrow 3-2 defeat against Bayern on April 4.

Freiburg supporters heading to the match can be ready 4 a troublesome conflict after seeing their team lose 1-0 at MHPArena on February 2, however provided that the guests have received three away journeys on the bounce earlier than the semi-ultimate, they can even be cautiously optimistic.

Stuttgart DFB-Pokal kind:

Stuttgart kind (all competitions):

Freiburg DFB-Pokal kind:

Freiburg kind (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / Sven Simon

Stuttgart can be with out centre-again Finn Jeltsch as he recovers from a muscle damage, so Jeff Chabot and Ramon Hendriks might begin on the coronary heart of Hoeness’s defence on Thursday.

At the alternative finish of the pitch, left winger Justin Diehl and 19-12 months-outdated fellow extensive man Lazar Jovanovic are sidelined with respective muscle and again points, although Jamie Leweling, Chris Fuhrich and Bilal El Khannouss needs to be available to begin behind Deniz Undav. 

As for Freiburg, they’re lacking centre-half Max Rosenfelder on account of a hamstring damage, and Matthias Ginter is prone to be joined by Bruno Ogbus in entrance of backup shot-stopper Florian Muller in midweek.

Elsewhere, midfielders Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Patrick Osterhage are each working their manner again from accidents and can be unavailable consequently, so anticipate to see Maximilian Eggestein and Johan Manzambi patrol the centre of the park, supporting the assault-minded Yuito Suzuki.

Stuttgart potential beginning lineup:

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

Freiburg potential beginning lineup:

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

We say: Stuttgart 1-2 Freiburg

Stuttgart are on the right track to safe Champions League soccer within the Bundesliga, however their current document has been inconsistent total, and it stays to be seen whether or not they can rise to the event of going through an in-kind opponent in a semi-ultimate.

Freiburg misplaced their most up-to-date assembly with Die Roten, however they arrive into Thursday’s conflict having received 4 video games on the bounce – and 6 of their final seven – so anticipate a robust exhibiting from the guests.

For knowledge evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.