Stuttgart claimed their fourth DFB-Pokal title with a thrilling 4-2 victory over third-division side Arminia Bielefeld at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday evening.
While the result ultimately favored the Bundesliga giants, the final was a celebration of Arminia Bielefeld’s remarkable journey—a run that captivated the nation and saw them eliminate four top-flight teams, including reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen, en route to the final. But their dream of lifting the trophy came to an end as Stuttgart’s top-tier quality proved too much on the night.
The match began at a frenetic pace, and Stuttgart wasted no time asserting their authority. Just 15 minutes in, Nick Woltemade opened the scoring after a well-worked move, latching on to a precise pass from Angelo Stiller and calmly finishing to give the favorites an early lead.
Stuttgart doubled their advantage just seven minutes later through French midfielder Enzo Millot, who turned in a cross from Deniz Undav. The pressure continued to mount, and by the 28th minute, it was 3-0—this time Undav getting on the scoresheet himself, again with Stiller providing the assist.
At half-time, Arminia Bielefeld found themselves trailing by three goals, a margin that reflected Stuttgart’s dominance in possession, movement, and attacking precision.
Despite the daunting scoreline, Bielefeld came out in the second half determined not to go down without a fight. However, any hope of a dramatic comeback took a further blow when Millot added his second of the night in the 66th minute, firing home from the edge of the area to make it 4-0. The goal was another reminder of Stuttgart’s clinical edge and Millot’s growing influence on the game.
Still, Arminia Bielefeld’s spirit never wavered. In the 82nd minute, Julian Kania gave their vocal supporters something to cheer about with a beautifully taken goal, rifling a shot into the roof of the net following a pass from Christopher Lannert. It was a historic moment—Bielefeld became the first third-division team to ever score in a DFB-Pokal final.
Just three minutes later, Stuttgart defender Josha Vagnoman inadvertently headed into his own net, bringing the underdogs to within two goals and sparking a final surge of belief among their players and fans. The stadium roared with anticipation, and for a brief moment, it felt as though another chapter in Bielefeld’s fairytale might unfold.
But Stuttgart regrouped quickly, maintaining composure in the dying minutes to see out the win and claim the trophy. The final whistle sparked scenes of joy among Stuttgart players and supporters, celebrating the club’s first major silverware since their last DFB-Pokal win in 1997.
For Arminia Bielefeld, it was a bittersweet evening. The loss stung, but their unprecedented cup journey brought pride to the club and its fans. Their wins against Bundesliga giants and their courageous performance in the final earned them national admiration.
Speaking after the match, Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß praised Bielefeld: “They’ve been a credit to this competition and gave us a real challenge. We had to be at our best, and I’m proud of how our players handled the occasion.”
For Stuttgart, the victory not only secures a prestigious trophy but also affirms their status among Germany’s top clubs following an impressive domestic campaign.
Arminia Bielefeld’s players may have walked off the pitch without a trophy, but they did so with their heads held high. Their 2025 DFB-Pokal campaign will be remembered as one of the most inspiring underdog stories in recent German football history.
