FC Bayern's road to the 2026 DFB Cup final

Berlin, Berlin - we're going to Berlin! FC Bayern are back in the DFB Cup final for the first time in six years. But the journey to the final in the capital on 23 May wasn't always plain sailing. fcbayern.com takes a look back at the record cup winners' campaign so far, which Vincent Kompany and his team will be looking to crown by lifting the trophy on Saturday.

The first round of the DFB Cup at third-division side SV Wehen Wiesbaden was actually supposed to be a straightforward affair for FC Bayern. For a long time, it looked as if the record cup winners would live up to their role as favourites - before things became unnecessarily tense from the Munich men's point of view. After taking a 2-0 lead through Harry Kane (16') and Michael Olise (51'), FCB actually had the game under control - and also had enough opportunities to add to the score. Out of nowhere, however, a brace from Fatih Kaya (65'/70') suddenly had the home side dreaming of a cup sensation again. "There were an incredible number of chances. But that's the way it is in football if you don't score," Joshua Kimmich was later forced to admit. So it was important for Bayern to keep their cool. Despite the setback and a missed penalty from Kane (76'), Kompany's side refused to be denied. In stoppage time, they finally secured a late but deserved victory with a second from Kane (90'+4). Even though the Bavarians had made it unnecessarily difficult for themselves, only one thing mattered to Konrad Laimer after the final whistle: "This is the first round of the cup, it's never easy and things like this can happen. In the end, it's just important that we've progressed."

FC Bayern's first clash with a rival Bundesliga club awaited them in the second round. Vincent Kompany's team suffered another setback at 1. FC Köln, but were able to recover quickly. Luis Díaz (36') and Kane (38') responded to the hosts' lead through Ragnar Ache (31') before the break. "It didn't take long for us to make it 1-1 and 2-1. That was a great reaction from us as a team," said Jonathan Tah afterwards. Once again, the visitors refused to be thrown off course and added two more goals after the break through Kane (64') and Olise (72'). Bayern had shown their moral fibre and also put the head coach in a good mood: "It was a total battle, just like a cup tie can be. I'm happy with the lads' battling mentality."

FC Bayern had already experienced first-hand during the course of the season just how unpleasant playing against 1. FC Union Berlin at the Alte Försterei can be. Just over three weeks before the rematch in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup, FCB only just managed to salvage a last-minute draw in the Bundesliga clash with the Irons. Union also proved to be tough opponents in the cup. "We knew it wouldn't be easy here in Berlin today. Lots of high balls, lots of tackles, lots of set pieces and long throw-ins - I think we had the full package again today," explained Laimer after the final whistle. So it was all the more important that Bayern's set-pieces were particularly good on the day - and they also had a bit of luck on their side. Both the own goal by Berlin's Ilyas Ansah (12') to make it 1-0 and Kane's goal (24') came from corners. A second own goal of the evening by Diego Leite (45'+4) to make it 3-1 was brought about by Olise with a dangerous free-kick. Leopold Querfeld (40'/55') also scored twice from the penalty spot for the home side, meaning that all five goals of the game came from set pieces. "You have to get through games like that, it was a tough battle," said Kane later, summing up the night.

The draw for the last eight finally gave Bayern a home game at the Allianz Arena. RB Leipzig were tough opponents, however, even though the previous encounters with the Saxons over the course of the season had clearly gone the Bavarians' way. As was to be expected, though, it was a much more evenly-matched encounter than the 6-0 home win at the start of the season and the 5-1 win in Leipzig at the beginning of January. "It was evenly matched at times, but you could feel our dominance," explained board member for sport Max Eberl later. The home side turned their superiority on the pitch into something tangible after a good hour with a penalty from Kane (64') and another goal from Díaz (67'), ultimately breaking Leipzig's resistance. "My compliments to the team for the way they played and scored out of their dominance. We gave practically nothing away, including scoring chances," said president Herbert Hainer, praising Bayern's performance: "All in all, a deserved win and a good performance."

Now they were just one step away from the longed-for final in Berlin - and the opponents in the semi-final seemed to be just about perfect. After being knocked out by them in the round of 16 in the previous season, the Munich men had a score to settle with Bayer 04 Leverkusen and proved in the rematch that only one team deserved to reach the final on the day: "The team consistently showed they were greedy," stressed Eberl after the final whistle: "The only thing we can be criticised for is that we didn't score more goals." Even after the deserved opener from Kane (22'), there was just one team playing at the BayArena, with Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer only having to intervene once - although it was for a brilliant save from Nathan Tella (52'). It was only in stoppage time that Díaz (90'+3) put the visitors in the driving seat and finally wrapped up the 2-0 win. But no matter how long it took, all that mattered was the result: "It's great to be back in the final. We've been working towards this all year," said a beaming Josip Stanišić afterwards.

VfB Stuttgart's route to the final

The cup holders from Stuttgart almost fell at the first hurdle on their way to their second consecutive DFB Cup final, but won 8-7 on penalties at Bundesliga 2 side Eintracht Braunschweig. This was followed by 2-0 wins at Mainz 05 and VfL Bochum in the second round and round of 16 respectively. Following the winter break, VfB went on to beat Holstein Kiel 3-0 in the quarter-finals before then defeating SC Freiburg 2-1 at home after extra time in the last four.