Stuttgart vs RB Leipzig: DfB Pokal Preview

Setting the Scene

For Stuttgart, the Pokal offers a rare bright spot amid a rough patch in domestic form. Sebastian Hoeneß's men edged past Augsburg 1-0 in a cautious quarter-final performance back in February, thanks to a first-half winner from Deniz Undav. Since then, however, their form has dipped considerably.

They enter the semi-final without a win in six matches across all competitions, four of which have ended in defeat. Most recently, they fell 1-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, leaving them mid-table and trailing the European qualification places by five points. Still, they’ve shown resilience in the cup, and they'll take encouragement from their comeback win over Leipzig earlier this year—a 2-1 victory in January after falling behind early.

At home, Stuttgart’s recent record leaves plenty to be desired. While they knocked out Augsburg on their own turf in the last round, that remains their only win in their past six home fixtures. However, that run has included visits from top-tier opposition such as Bayern Munich, PSG, and Bayer Leverkusen.

Leipzig Under New Leadership

For RB Leipzig, this semi-final comes amid managerial upheaval. Marco Rose was relieved of his duties following a limp 1-0 defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday—a result that capped off a run of just two wins from their last 11 matches in all competitions.

Former assistant coach Zsolt Lőw has been appointed on an interim basis. Having worked under elite managers like Thomas Tuchel, he now has the chance to guide Leipzig to their third successive DFB-Pokal final—something that would inject life into an otherwise disappointing campaign.

Leipzig progressed to the last four after edging Wolfsburg 1-0 in February, and while the squad remains packed with talent, their away form poses a concern. Die Roten Bullen have managed just one win in their last 13 matches on the road, suffering eight defeats in that stretch.

Head-to-Head History

The recent history between these two sides is surprisingly even. Stuttgart defeated Leipzig 2-1 earlier this year in league play, but Leipzig claimed victory in the two previous meetings before that. They also hold the edge in knockout matches, having eliminated Stuttgart in a previous DFB-Pokal encounter in 2022.

That said, Stuttgart will draw confidence from their latest win and the fact that Leipzig’s form—especially away from home—is faltering at a crucial moment.

Key Stats

Stuttgart have failed to win any of their last six games across all competitions (D2, L4).
RB Leipzig have won just two of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Leipzig have scored just once in their last four away matches.
Stuttgart have lost five of their last six home games, but did win their last Pokal fixture at the MHPArena.
Leipzig have reached the DFB-Pokal final in each of the last two seasons, winning it in 2022 and finishing runners-up in 2023.

Team News

Stuttgart:

Dan-Axel Zagadou and Josha Vagnoman remain sidelined in defence.
Justin Diehl is also out injured.
Expect Ameen Al-Dakhil and Julian Chabot to anchor the defence, flanked by Finn Jeltsch and Maximilian Mittelstädt.
Deniz Undav, Enzo Millot, Chris Führich, and Nick Woltemade are all fit and likely to feature in attack.

RB Leipzig:

Peter Gulácsi is a doubt due to illness, so Maarten Vandevoordt may start in goal.
Benjamin Henrichs is unavailable.
Midfield options Xaver Schlager, Kevin Kampl, and Forzan Assan Ouedraogo are also expected to miss out.
Nicolas Seiwald and Arthur Vermeeren could form the midfield pivot.
Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda may lead the line, with Xavi Simons offering creative support.

A place in the final awaits, and with both sides experiencing ups and downs in recent weeks, Wednesday’s clash could be as unpredictable as it is crucial. For Stuttgart, it’s a chance to revive their season. For Leipzig, it’s an opportunity to reset and push for silverware under new guidance.