history
When VfB Stuttgart meets FC Bayern in the DFB Cup final on Saturday (8 p.m.), the Munich team will be the big favorites. The previous record also speaks for the record cup winner.
It is a historically exceptional date, November 9, 1989. And that for two reasons. On that wet gray November day more than 36 years ago, the Wall fell in Berlin, a world political event of the highest order and a milestone in the history of Germany. And: VfB Stuttgart won 3-0 against FC Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup round of 16 on the same evening.
Why does this have to be assessed historically from a football perspective? Simply because it was the Swabians’ only win in ten duels in the DFB Cup so far. But first things first…
1974: Uli Hoeneß makes the decision
On September 7, 1974, VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern met for the first time in the DFB Cup. The Munich team, full of fame and honor as German champions, European Cup winners and with six world champions on their team, beat the guests from Baden-Württemberg 3-2 in the Olympic Stadium and thus moved into the second round.
Stuttgart had kept up well for a long time and even led 2-1 thanks to goals from Heinz Stickel and Buffy Ettmayer – a brilliant free kick from 30 meters against Sepp Maier that was typical of the cute Austrian. Gerd Müller and, shortly before the end, Uli Hoeneß ruined VfB’s cup day in Munich with their goals.
1986: First final defeat for VfB in Berlin
The two teams met for the first time in a DFB Cup final on May 3, 1986. In wonderfully sunny afternoon weather in the sold-out Berlin Olympic Stadium, the Munich team really showed off VfB. They won well and deservedly with 5:2. Roland Wohlfarth alone scored three times for Bayern, Michael Rummenigge scored two goals.
At Stuttgart, with interim coach Willi Entenmann on the bench, only the national players Guido Buchwald and Jürgen Klinsmann ensured cosmetic results. This cup game was also overshadowed by global headlines: a few days before the final in Berlin, a nuclear power plant exploded in the then completely unknown Chernobyl in what is now Ukraine.
1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall and VfB’s only success
Goalscorer Fritz Walter was the man of the evening in Stuttgart’s 3-0 cup win in November 1989 in the Neckarstadion, which was sold out by 67,000 fans. The nimble Fritz scored two goals, the third VfB goal was scored by Jürgen Hartmann. The Swabians under coach Ari Haan deservedly won this round of 16 game against Jupp Heynckes’ disappointing team. It was finally Stuttgart’s first success in the third cup duel – and the only one to date.
While there was huge cheering in Stuttgart that evening, football was once again overshadowed by emotions: in Berlin the wall fell on this historic day and the border between GDR and FRG was suddenly open. On ARD, images alternated between the live broadcast of the game from Stuttgart and the sensational events in Berlin. November 9th, 1989 will never be forgotten.
1998 – 2012: Again and again VfB defeats in the cup
It was only nine years after the events of November 9, 1989 that Munich and Stuttgart met again in the DFB Cup. On February 17, 1998, FC Bayern won the semi-final in the Olympic Stadium 3-0 with goals from Dietmar Hamann, Mehmet Scholl and Michael Tarnat after just 25 minutes. VfB, as defending champions, missed out on participating in the final again under Jogi Löw.
It was supposed to be the start of further bitter cup defeats for VfB against Munich. In the six duels from 1989 to 2012, Bayern won overwhelmingly: 3:0, 3:0, 3:0, 5:1, 6:3 and 2:0. Munich always ignored the frustrated Stuttgart on the way to becoming the German record cup winner in these years.
2013: Bayern win again in Berlin
FC Bayern also won the last cup duel with VfB. On June 1, 2013 it was 3-2 for the triple winner of that year in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. It was the second final duel between both teams. Munich was already clearly ahead 3-0, including two goals from former VfB top scorer Mario Gomez, before Austrian Martin Harnik made the game exciting again with his two goals shortly before the end of the game.
But it was no longer enough for VfB coach Bruno Labbadia’s team. Once again, like in 1986, there was frustration and tears in the final from Stuttgart. Second final in Berlin – second defeat against Bayern.
2026: Finally the second VfB success?
Stuttgart’s record after ten DFB Cup games against Munich so far is sobering: a single VfB win compares to nine successes for FC Bayern. So it’s high time to polish up the score on Saturday in Berlin (8 p.m., live in SWR1 Stadium). 13 years after the last duel. And more than 36 after the victory on the day the Berlin Wall fell.
