Stuttgart host Freiburg in the second DFB-Pokal semi-final on Thursday, with the defending champions aiming to reach the cup final in back-to-back seasons.
Stuttgart's cup run culminated in a last-term title with a 4-2 victory over Arminia Bielefeld, and they will play their first Pokal home game since defeating RB Leipzig at a similar stage last year. In terms of team news, Finn Jeltsch is ruled out with an abdominal muscle injury, while Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović are expected to return to the starting lineup. Undav missed the Bayern match due to suspension, and Demirović featured for the final 15 minutes in the previous meeting.
Freiburg have won four of their last ten games, including a Europa League quarter-final victory over Celta de Vigo, and regularly compete across three competitions—a rarity for a Bundesliga club of their size.
Since the 2020/21 season, Freiburg are now approaching their third Pokal semi-final; their only previous appearance in the last four was in 2013 when they were eliminated by Stuttgart.
The Breisgau club have climbed to seventh in the Bundesliga, which could secure European qualification even if they do not win any cup competition this season.
Max Rosenfelder and Patrick Osterhage are the only confirmed absentees from Freiburg's traveling squad due to long-term injuries. Philipp Lienhart, Linehart, Niklas Beste, and Yuito Suzuki are all expected to return to the starting lineup after coming on as late substitutes on Sunday.
Predicted lineups
Stuttgart: Nübel; Vagnoman, Chabot, Hendriks, Mittelstädt; Karazor, Stiller; Leweling, Undav, Führich; Demirović.
Freiburg: Atubolu; Makengo, Ginter, Linehart, Treu; Eggestein, Manzambi; Grifo, Suzuki, Beste; Matanovic.
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