News Focus
- FC Bayern Munich face VfL Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal Frauen Final at RheinEnergieStadion.
- Bayern seek back-to-back titles after ending Wolfsburg’s ten-year reign last season.
- Wolfsburg risk finishing without silverware for two straight seasons for the first time since 2013.
- Alexandra Popp returns from injury chasing her 14th cup title before her summer move to Borussia Dortmund.
- Bayern have won all three meetings this season, scoring eleven goals and conceding only four.
FC Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg will meet in the DFB-Pokal Frauen Final this Sunday. The match takes place at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne. This ground has hosted the women’s cup final since 2010.
The Bavarian club won this trophy for only the second time in their history last season. That victory ended Wolfsburg’s ten-year period of dominance in the competition. Now, Bayern hope to keep the cup under the management of José Barcala. The coach enjoyed a successful first season, winning the league title and reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League.
Wolfsburg face a different pressure. They could finish this campaign without any trophies for the second year running. This has not happened since the 2012/13 season. The team will look to change this trend against their biggest rivals.
This season, Bayern have beaten Wolfsburg three times. These wins include the Super Cup and two league matches. The aggregate score across these games is 11-4 in Bayern’s favour. However, Wolfsburg have strong memories of the last two cup finals between these sides. They won both of those matches. In the 2023/24 final, they beat Bayern 2-0. Jule Brand and Dominique Janssen scored the goals that day. Both players have since left the club.
The match also marks an important moment for Alexandra Popp. The Wolfsburg captain will join Borussia Dortmund in the summer. She has won this competition 13 times already. A victory on Sunday would give her a remarkable 14th title. The former Germany skipper missed several weeks due to injury but returned to the squad for the semi-final against Freiburg.
Both teams have injury concerns. Wolfsburg will miss Kessya Bussy and Caitlin Dijkstra. Bayern are without Sarah Zadrazil, Lina Oberdorf and Jovana Damnjanovic. However, the holders have fewer absentees for this crucial clash.
Franziska Wildfeuer will referee the final. The 32-year-old official will take charge of her first cup final. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will assist the officials during the match.
The German women’s football season concludes this Sunday. The final Bundesliga matches will take place at the same time as this cup final.
Predicted Line-ups:
FC Bayern Munich: Mahmutovic; Gwinn, Viggosdottir, Eriksson, Kett; Amani, Stanway; Dallmann, Tanikawa, Bühl; Harder
VfL Wolfsburg: Johannes; Linder, Kleinherne, Küver, Levels; Kielland, Minge; Huth, Peddemors, Endemann; Beerensteyn