Bayern Munich go into the DFB-Pokal final with a season-long edge over VfB Stuttgart that is hard to ignore. They have already beaten Stuttgart three times this season, and the teams will meet for the fourth time. The club's league numbers are the bigger warning sign, though, because Bayern finished the Bundesliga with 117 goals and a +82 goal difference.

Harry Kane sits at the centre of it. He scored 36 league goals, Michael Olise supplied 19 assists and Luis Díaz added 15 goals in his debut Bayern season, giving Bayern München a front line that has been relentless rather than merely efficient. Kane summed up the mood after the PSG tie, saying: "Now my focus is on the DFB-Pokal final. We have the chance to win the double".

Why Bayern's attack sets the tone

The raw numbers explain why Bayern are favourites. They finished the Bundesliga with 117 goals, and the trio of Kane, Olise and Díaz produced 104 Bundesliga goal contributions between them. That is a massive amount of end product for any opponent to absorb in one-off football.

Stuttgart's league season was strong enough to finish fourth and secure Champions League qualification, but the head-to-head record is still grim. Bayern have won 12 of their last 15 meetings with Stuttgart, including a 5-0 win in December and a 4-2 win in their most recent Bundesliga meeting. That makes the final feel less like a neutral decider and more like another test of whether Stuttgart can resist a side they have already struggled to contain.

Where Stuttgart's best hope comes from

If there is a route for Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović, it starts with the cup run. Stuttgart beat Eintracht Braunschweig 8-7 on penalties after a 4-4 draw in the second round, then beat SC Freiburg 2-1 after extra time with a 119th-minute goal from Tiago Tomás. That is not the path of a side that folds easily under pressure.

Undav has also been a real threat, scoring 19 Bundesliga goals across the season. Jamal Musiala gives Bayern his own subplot, because he has won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and Bundesliga, but the DFB-Pokal is still missing from his collection. Even so, the final still looks like Bayern's to lose. Stuttgart can make it awkward, but they need a very good day to turn the season's pattern around in Berlin.

FAQ

Why are Bayern Munich favourites against VfB Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final?

Bayern Munich go in as strong favourites because their attack has produced historic numbers and they have already beaten VfB Stuttgart repeatedly this season. Bayern finished with 117 Bundesliga goals, while Harry Kane scored 36, Michael Olise added 19 assists and Luis Díaz scored 15 goals in his debut Bayern season.

Can VfB Stuttgart upset Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal final?

Stuttgart can lean on their cup resilience and the form of Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović, but the evidence still points heavily toward Bayern. Stuttgart did beat Eintracht Braunschweig on penalties and Freiburg after extra time on the way to Berlin, yet Bayern have won 12 of the last 15 meetings.

How many times have Bayern Munich beaten VfB Stuttgart this season?

The brief says Bayern and Stuttgart will meet for the fourth time this season, and it also says Bayern have already beaten Stuttgart 5-0 in December and 4-2 in the most recent Bundesliga meeting. Another source in the brief describes Bayern as having beaten Stuttgart three times this season.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →