Key Takeaways
- VfB Stuttgart leads the historical head‑to‑head in DFB‑Pokal duels against SC Freiburg, winning four of the five previous meetings.
- The two clubs have met six times in the competition, with the first clash occurring in November 1996 and the most recent in December 2020.
- Memorable moments include a dramatic penalty‑shootout win for Stuttgart in 1996, a late extra‑time winner by Viorel Ganea in 2000, and Martin Harnik’s header that sent Stuttgart to the 2013 final.
- Freiburg’s only Pokal victory over Stuttgart came in September 2013, when a youthful Matthias Ginter and Mike Hanke scored.
- Matthias Ginter, now 32, remains the only current Freiburg player who featured in the 2013 semifinal loss and aims to avenge that defeat in the upcoming 2026 semifinal.
- The upcoming match (scheduled for 23 April 2026, 20:45 Uhr live on Das Erste) will be the second DFB‑Pokal semifinal between the sides, again held in Stuttgart’s arena.
The rivalry between VfB Stuttgart and SC Freiburg in the DFB‑Pokal has produced a series of tight, often dramatic encounters that illustrate the ebb and flow of Baden‑Württemberg football. The first meeting took place on 13 November 1996 at Freiburg’s Dreisamstadion. After a 1‑1 draw through regular and extra time—goals from Stuttgart’s Fredi Bobic and Freiburg’s Martin Spanring—the match went to a penalty shoot‑out. Stuttgart prevailed 4‑2, with goalkeeper Franz Wohlfahrt saving the decisive spot‑kick, and went on to win the trophy that season by defeating Energie Cottbus in the final.
Four years later, on 20 December 2000, the sides met again in Stuttgart’s arena. After a goalless first half, Sebastian Kehl cancelled an early lead by Viorel Ganea, sending the game into extra time. Ganea struck in the 95th minute to give Stuttgart a 2‑1 victory, although the side was later eliminated in the semifinals by Schalke 04.
The next chapter arrived on 17 April 2013, when Freiburg travelled to Stuttgart for the semifinal. Stuttgart opened the scoring through Arthur Boka, but Freiburg equalised quickly via Jan Rosenthal. Before halftime, Martin Harnik headed in the winner, sending Stuttgart to a final showdown with Bayern Munich (which they lost 2‑3). The match is still remembered for the image of a distraught 19‑year‑old Matthias Ginter being comforted by his coach Christian Streich after the defeat.
Just a few months later, on 25 September 2013, the tables turned. Freiburg hosted Stuttgart in the second round and secured their first ever Pokal win over their rivals. The teenage Ginter opened the scoring, and Mike Hanke added a second before Ibisevic pulled one back for Stuttgart. Freiburg’s run ended in the next round against Bayer Leverkusen, but the victory remains a landmark in the fixture’s history.
The most recent competitive meeting occurred on 23 December 2020, amid COVID‑19 restrictions that left Stuttgart’s arena empty. Sasa Kalajdzic netted the only goal after just 15 minutes, giving Stuttgart a narrow 1‑0 advance to the round of 16. Stuttgart’s cup journey, however, ended shortly after with a home loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Now, on 23 April 2026, the clubs meet for the sixth time in the DFB‑Pokal, and for the second time in a semifinal. The fixture returns to Stuttgart’s arena, echoing the 2013 encounter. Matthias Ginter, still donning the Freiburg shirt at age 32, is the sole surviving participant from that 2013 match and has expressed determination to overturn the past defeat, noting that “it will again come down to the small details.” Freiburg will look to build on their sole historic win, while Stuttgart seeks to extend its dominant record (four wins from five) and advance toward a potential final.
Across these six matches, several patterns emerge: Stuttgart tends to prevail when the contest is decided in regular or extra time, Freiburg’s breakthrough came in a rare away win, and individual moments—whether a penalty save, a late header, or a youthful goal—have repeatedly tipped the balance. The upcoming semifinal promises another installment of this storied regional duel, with both sides aware that a single moment of brilliance or error could rewrite the historical narrative once more.