DFB POKAL FINAL PLAYER RATINGS | Bayern Munich 3-0 VfB Stuttgart – Bayern complete a domestic double thanks to a resilient performance in Berlin | OneFootball

Heading into the DFB Pokal final, Bayern Munich were looking to complete the domestic double, while Stuttgart were looking to go back-to-back when it comes to winning the Pokal.

During the first half, it was an even affair with Stuttgart being able to buck the trend of recent Bayern games, where they would have a good spell before being blown away. Part of this was because of the back three that Sebastian Hoeneß decided to start with. The trio of Luca Jaquez, Jeff Chabot and Ramon Hendriks were more than capable of handling Bayern’s famed front four. 

Both sides had one clear chance with Maximilian Mittelstadt hitting the side netting and Josip Stanisic forcing a strong save from Alexander Nübel, but apart from that, neither side was a true threat in front of the goal. 

The first half could easily be put down to Bayern simply struggling to be at their best. 

That was obviously going to change in the second half, and Bayern were a much better side, and took the lead in the 54th minute when a Michael Olise cross was met by the head of Harry Kane to make it 1-0. After a brief pause because of pyrotechnic smoke, Konrad Laimer had a great chance to make it 2-0, but he would sky his effort. 

However, Stuttgart would live to rue their missed chances and dominance in the first half, as Kane would score his second of the game in the 80th minute to all but secure Bayern’s first DFB Pokal in six years. 

To make matters worse for Hoeneß’s side, the Bundesliga champions would be awarded a penalty after an Olise cross hit the hand of Angelo Stiller. Kane would then convert the penalty to end the final with a hat-trick. 

The DFB Pokal win completes a domestic double for Bayern, the first time they have completed such since 2020 when they won the treble. 

Stuttgart put up a commendable performance in the first half, but like in most games against Bayern, if you fail to take advantage of this, you will get burned, and they did in the second half, ending their chance of going back-to-back in the DFB Pokal. While Vincent Kompany’s side showed their resilient side, being able to overcome this poor first half, to produce a good performance in the second to kill the game off quickly. 

Bayern’s win also means the Super Cup will be between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund on 22nd August. 

DFB Pokal final PLAYER RATINGS:

Bayern Munich:

Jonas Urbig (7), Josip Stanisic (5),  Dayot Upamecano (6), Jonathan Tah (6), Konrad Laimer (6), Joshua Kimmich (6), Aleksander Pavlovic (6), Michael Olise (6), Jamal Musiala (6), Luis Diaz (5), Harry Kane (8)

Others: Lennart Karl (5), Leon Goretzka (-), Hiroki Ito (-), Tom Bischof (-), Rapahël Guerreiro (-)

Stuttgart:

Alexander Nübel (6), Ramon Hendriks (6), Jeff Chabot (6), Luca Jaquez (6), Jamie Leweling (5), Chema Andres (6), Angelo Stiller (5), Maximilian Mittelstädt (6), Chris Führich (5), Deniz Undav (5), Ermedin Demirović (5)

Others: Finn Jeltsch (5), Bilal El Khannouss (5), Tiago Tomas (-), Nikolas Nartey (-)

GGFN Man of the Match: Harry Kane (8)

Stepped up for Bayern when they needed him in the DFB Pokal final. It was another classic Kane performance where he could be found all over the pitch, even defending when needed. His hat-trick is also the first hat-trick scored in the DFB Pokal final since Robert Lewandowski’s treble against Bayern in Dortmund’s 5-2 win in 2012 under Jürgen Klopp. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan