Semifinal that splits the season into before and after
VfB Stuttgart and SC Freiburg on Thursday night play for a place in the DFB Pokal final - the match is scheduled for 20:45, and the host is the MHPArena in Stuttgart. The date and venue have been confirmed in VfB’s official announcement, with a note that this is a semifinal in an unusual Thursday timeslot.
For a fan, this is the kind of match where you spare neither your voice nor your nerves: 90 minutes (and possible extra time) for one single outcome - the final. Tickets for this fixture have been in demand among supporters.
What’s at stake for both sides
For Stuttgart, the semifinal is both an opportunity and pressure. In the Bundesliga they are near the top of the standings: after 29 rounds they have 56 points and are right at the top of the table, level on points with RB Leipzig.
Freiburg enter the league from a more stable but less glamorous position: they are eighth with 40 points after 29 matches. In practice that means the DFB Pokal can be their shortest route to “one big night” - the final - and everything it brings.
Form ahead of the semifinal and match rhythm
Stuttgart come into the semifinal after a run of results that show two things: the ability to dismantle a weaker opponent and the fact that the schedule has been congested (Bundesliga and European commitments). In their most recent outings, a 4-0 home win over Hamburger SV stands out (12.04.2026), and earlier away they beat FC Augsburg 5-2.
Freiburg’s April is more “on the edge”: in the league on 12.04.2026 they beat 1. FSV Mainz 05 1-0, and before that they had a tough test against FC Bayern München (a 2-3 defeat).
Kicker’s form over the last 10 matches further highlights the difference in trend: Stuttgart had more wins in that period, while Freiburg more often oscillate between narrow wins and defeats.
Key people on the pitch
If you’re coming to the stadium and want to “catch” the rhythm of the match right away, with Stuttgart the eye most often goes to the spine that defines transition and finishing: Angelo Stiller in midfield, and up front Ermedin Demirovic and Deniz Undav. In the official squad list for the 2025/26 season, they are among the key figures in midfield and attack.
Freiburg are a team that often relies on clear structure and precise execution in phases of play - and in the squad they have players who can change a match with one move, such as Vincenzo Grifo. The DFB Data Center list for the 2025/26 season confirms Grifo as an important part of the attacking line, alongside a range of recognizable names in defense and midfield.
In goal, at least according to squad lists, Stuttgart could have Alexander Nübel, while Freiburg in their season squad have Noah Atubolu as the first option between the posts. These are duels within the duel: in the cup you often remember one save, not ten good minutes.
Coaches and expected approach
Stuttgart are led by Sebastian Hoeneß, which is clearly stated in the official presentation of the coaching staff on the club’s website.
With Freiburg it’s important not to stick to old assumptions: the coach is Julian Schuster (listed as “Trainer” in the DFB Data Center), and his Freiburg as a rule try to keep line discipline and attack through planned patterns, especially when the match enters a phase where one detail decides.
For a fan in the stands, this most often means this: Stuttgart will want rhythm and pressure on the opponent’s back line, Freiburg will look for moments when the match settles and then “steal” space between the lines or from set pieces. If the stadium “roars” early, the home side will try to turn that into a series of situations in front of goal - seats in the stands disappear quickly and it’s exactly for nights like that people arrive earlier than usual.
Possible absences and doubts
A cup match is also won on information before you set off: who is actually available. For Stuttgart, Transfermarkt in the “Sperren und Verletzungen” section lists several names with problems or administrative statuses, including for example Josha Vagnoman (listed thigh issues) and Lazar Jovanovic (listed back issues).
For Freiburg, the same section lists, among others, Philipp Lienhart (listed abdominal muscle injury), Lukas Kübler (listed knee injury) and Max Rosenfelder (listed thigh injury), with a note about Maximilian Eggestein (listed suspension).
Additionally, dpa reported on 13.04.2026 that Johan Manzambi is injured in the knee - information that can affect the depth of rotation in midfield.
- VfB Stuttgart (examples from the list): Josha Vagnoman, Lazar Jovanovic (status according to injury/suspension sections)
- SC Freiburg (examples from the list): Philipp Lienhart, Lukas Kübler, Max Rosenfelder; with a note about Maximilian Eggestein (status according to injury/suspension sections)
- Additional news: Johan Manzambi - report about a knee injury (dpa)
Head-to-head meetings: what counts, and what doesn’t
In the cup, history is useful as a framework, but it is not a guarantee. Still, the overall record says these two clubs know each other down to the details: through the official direct display of results and statistics, kicker lists a total of 53 head-to-head matches, with Stuttgart having the advantage in number of wins.
It is especially worth noting the last league meeting that kicker highlights as “Letztes Spiel”: Stuttgart beat Freiburg 1-0 (Bundesliga, 01.02.2026). That is not a template for the cup, but it is a reminder that it is often a match decided by a single ball.
MHPArena: capacity, layout and what the fan feels
MHPArena is a stadium of big numbers, but for a fan it matters what that means in practice. The official “Daten & Fakten” lists a capacity of 60,058 spectators for the Bundesliga (seated and standing) and 54,272 seats for international competitions.
In the same section there are also details that explain logistics: 100 turnstile entrance gates, a large number of sanitary facilities and kiosks, and 17,670 parking spaces around the stadium. Those are dry numbers, but in practice they mean less nervousness if you arrive on time - it’s worth securing tickets on time, but it’s also worth planning your arrival on time.
How to get to the stadium and where to expect crowds
The official MHPArena arrival page lists several clear public transport options: U1 to the Mercedesstraße stop, U11 as a special line for major events to NeckarPark (Stadion), U19 to NeckarPark (Stadion) or U13 to Wilhelmsplatz (Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt). For trains and S-Bahn it mentions S1 to Neckarpark (Mercedes-Benz), and S2 or S3 to Bahnhof Bad Cannstatt, with further directions toward the stadium.
If you’re going by car, the same page states that NeckarPark traffic guidance leads from the motorways via B10 or B14 toward the stadium, and that in the Mercedesstraße area there are public parking spaces, with additional options around the club facilities. A practical rule for the semifinal: don’t plan to arrive “to the minute” - the crowd starts building long before the first whistle.
Stuttgart as host: short, useful, fan-oriented
MHPArena is in NeckarPark, in the Bad Cannstatt district, which is useful to know because that part of the city has its own infrastructure for major events. If you’re coming from outside Stuttgart, it’s easiest to plan your route so that your last segment is by public transport - especially if you don’t know local approaches and street closure regimes on match day.
For away fans, the most important thing is simple: arrive earlier, enter more calmly, and expect that around the stadium you will feel a “cup night” - a mix of club colors, quicker checks and more police than at an average league fixture. Ticket sales for this match are ongoing.
Sources:
- vfb.de - confirmation of the semifinal kickoff time and competition framework; official squad list and coaching staff for the 2025/26 season
- bundesliga.com - current Bundesliga table (positions and points for VfB Stuttgart and SC Freiburg)
- kicker.de - form overview (last 10 matches) and head-to-head record; data on the last league meeting Stuttgart - Freiburg
- mhparena-stuttgart.de - official “Daten & Fakten” (capacity and logistical figures) and “Anfahrt & Parken” (public lines and arrival guidance)
- datencenter.dfb.de - official squad and coach list for SC Freiburg for the 2025/26 season and league schedule/results in April
- transfermarkt.de - “Sperren und Verletzungen” sections for both clubs (injury/suspension statuses)
- zeit.de (dpa) - news about Johan Manzambi’s injury (knee) published 13.04.2026