As the DFB Pokal final approached, Bayern Munich aimed to finish the season with a domestic double, while Stuttgart sought to win back-to-back Pokal titles.
The first half was a balanced contest, with Stuttgart managing to break the pattern of recent Bayern matches, in which they would often dominate early on but falter later. This success was partly due to the three-man defense that Sebastian Hoeneß deployed, featuring Luca Jaquez, Jeff Chabot, and Ramon Hendriks, all of whom were effective at containing Bayern’s well-known attacking force.
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Both teams had their opportunities, with Maximilian Mittelstadt hitting the side netting and Josip Stanisic forcing a notable save from Alexander Nübel. However, neither team posed a significant threat to the goal overall in the first half.
It seemed that Bayern simply struggled to find their rhythm before halftime.
That narrative changed in the second half, as Bayern upped their game. They took the lead in the 54th minute, thanks to a cross from Michael Olise, which Harry Kane converted with a header to put Bayern ahead 1-0. Following a brief delay due to smoke from pyro techniques, Konrad Laimer squandered a golden opportunity to double the lead with a shot over the bar.
Stuttgart would come to regret their missed chances and strong first-half showing, as Kane scored his second in the 80th minute, effectively clinching Bayern’s first DFB Pokal victory in six years.
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Things worsened for Stuttgart as Bayern were awarded a penalty after an Olise cross struck Angelo Stiller‘s hand. Kane confidently converted the penalty, completing his hat-trick and sealing the match.
This DFB Pokal victory secured a domestic double for Bayern, their first since 2020, following their treble-winning season.
Stuttgart showcased commendable resilience, particularly in the first half, but like many teams facing Bayern, they were punished for not capitalizing on their chances. In the end, Bayern’s effective second-half performance quickly extinguished Stuttgart’s hopes of back-to-back Pokal titles.
Additionally, Bayern’s triumph sets the stage for the Super Cup showdown against Borussia Dortmund on August 22nd.
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DFB Pokal Final PLAYER RATINGS:
Bayern Munich:
Jonas Urbig (7), Josip Stanisic (5), Dayot Upamecano (6), Jonathan Tah (6), Konrad Laimer (6), Joshua Kimmich (6), Aleksander Pavlovic (6), Michael Olise (6), Jamal Musiala (6), Luis Diaz (5), Harry Kane (8)
Others: Lennart Karl (5), Leon Goretzka (-), Hiroki Ito (-), Tom Bischof (-), Rapahël Guerreiro (-)
Stuttgart:
Alexander Nübel (6), Ramon Hendriks (6), Jeff Chabot (6), Luca Jaquez (6), Jamie Leweling (5), Chema Andres (6), Angelo Stiller (5), Maximilian Mittelstädt (6), Chris Führich (5), Deniz Undav (5), Ermedin Demirović (5)
Others: Finn Jeltsch (5), Bilal El Khannouss (5), Tiago Tomas (-), Nikolas Nartey (-)
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GGFN Man of the Match: Harry Kane (8)
Harry Kane delivered for Bayern when it mattered most in the DFB Pokal final. His performance exemplified his ability to be influential all over the pitch, including in defensive roles when needed. Kane’s hat-trick marks the first hat-trick in a DFB Pokal final since Robert Lewandowski achieved in 2012 against Bayern in Dortmund’s 5-2 victory under Jürgen Klopp.
GGFN | Jack Meenan